The Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) signed a 50-year lease agreement on June 30, 2026, to establish the Office of the Regional Court Manager for Judicial Region III (SC-ORCM JR3) within the Clark Freeport Zone—a move that brings judicial administration closer to the people of Central Luzon.
A Historic Partnership for Decentralized Justice
The ceremonial signing, held at Teatro sa Nayon, was sealed by CDC President and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera and Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, with Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando as witnesses . Devanadera described the agreement as a milestone for the region: "This is decentralization. This is empowerment. This accelerates the delivery of justice" . Chief Justice Gesmundo added that "when those who serve the courts are supported, the judiciary serves the people," emphasizing that regional support offices are key to making judicial services more responsive and accessible.
Clark's Growing Role as a Governance Hub
The SC-ORCM JR3 will be located at Buildings 1092 and 1097 of the One-Stop Shop Processing Center along Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Clark, forming part of the Supreme Court's pilot rollout of decentralized administration under the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 . This plan is designed to streamline administrative and fiscal matters and promote judicial reform. The partnership reinforces Clark's position as a host to strategic national institutions, strengthening its role as a hub for governance and service delivery in Central Luzon . The event also coincided with Judiciary Month and the 125th anniversary of the Philippine Judiciary, with CDC Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan presenting Chief Justice Gesmundo a copy of his book, "Agyu Tamu," which chronicles the region's resilience following the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
