By Cheryl Joy D. Dean

The putting up of the COURT OF APPEALS ONE-STOP PROCESSING CENTER (CA-OSPC) was broached in line with the CA’s objective of streamlining and improving its services to the public by consolidating basic public frontline functions such as filing, receiving, verifying of cases and payment of docket fees, all in one place. In addition, the CA-OSPC is expected to address security concerns in the court as it will avoid unnecessary entry of vehicles; regulate ingress and egress of people; and, prevent loitering of people who have no official business in court. This center is strategically located in front of the CA Centennial Building along Ma. Orosa St. to make it accessible to the transacting public.

Though the brainchild of no one in particular, the CA-OSPC came into reality through the ingenuity and invaluable efforts of Justice Normandie B. Pizarro, who was designated as Project Coordinator. A core group was also created to spearhead the project composed of heads of different divisions of the court.

Some CA employees are apprehensive that their much-awaited benefits might be affected should the CA push through with the CA-OSPC Project. Fortunately, according to Justice Pizarro, sufficient funds are already earmarked for the project and, hence, they need not worry about receiving reduced fringe benefits or not receiving bonuses at all. Moreover, while some employees have to make “adjustments” for the project, such inconvenience is outweighed by the benefits that will be reaped by the public in general. For after all, we are all public servants.

The ground-breaking ceremony of the CA-OSPC was held last September 3, 2007 while the inauguration/opening date is tentatively scheduled on November 26, 2007, the expected date for the completion of the project.