Considering the Rules on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) for members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), recommended by the IBP, endorsed by the Philippine Judicial Academy, and reviewed and passed upon by the Supreme Court Committee on Legal Education, the Court hereby resolves to adopt, as it hereby adopts, the following rules for proper implementation:

Section 1. Purpose of the MCLE

Continuing legal education is required of members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to ensure that throughout their career, they keep abreast with law and jurisprudence, maintain the ethics of the profession and enhance the standards of the practice of law.

Section 1. Constitution of the MCLE Committee

Within two (2) months from the approval of these Rules by the Supreme Court En Banc, the MCLE Committee shall be constituted in accordance with these Rules.

Section 2. Requirements of completion of MCLE

Members of the IBP not exempt under Rule 7 shall complete, every three (3) years, at least thirty-six (36) hours of continuing legal education activities approved by the MCLE Committee. Of the 36 hours: 

Section 1. Initial compliance period

The initial compliance period shall begin not later than three (3) months from the constitution of the MCLE Committee. Except for the initial compliance period for members admitted or readmitted after the establishment of the program, all compliance periods shall be for thirty-six (36) months and shall begin the day after the end of the previous compliance period.

Section 2. Compliance Group 1.

Members in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila shall be permanently assigned to Compliance Group 1.

Section 3. Compliance Group 2.

Members in Luzon outside NCR shall be permanently assigned to Compliance Group 2. 

Section 4. Compliance Group 3.

Members in Visayas and Mindanao shall be permanently assigned to Compliance Group 3.

Section 5. Compliance period for members admitted or readmitted after establishment of the program.

Members admitted or readmitted to the Bar after the establishment of the program shall be permanently assigned to the appropriate Compliance Group based on their Chapter membership on the date of admission or readmission. 

The initial compliance period after admission or readmission shall begin on the first day of the month of admission or readmission and shall end on the same day as that of all other members in the same Compliance Group. 

Section 1. Guidelines

The following are the guidelines for computation of credit units (CU):

In numbers 2 and 3 of the guidelines in the preceding Section, the total maximum credit units shall not exceed twenty (20) hours per three (3) years. 

Section 1. Classes of credits

The credits are either participatory or non-participatory.

Section 2. Claim for participatory credit

Participatory credit may be claimed for: 

Non-participatory credit may be claimed per compliance period for:

Section 1. Computation of credit hours

Credit hours are computed based on actual time spent in an activity (actual instruction or speaking time), in hours to the nearest one-quarter hour. 

Section 1. Parties exempted from the MCLE

The following members of the Bar are exempt from the MCLE requirement: 

The following Members of the Bar are likewise exempt: 

A member may file a verified request setting forth good cause for exemption (such as physical disability, illness, post graduate study abroad, proven expertise in law, etc.) from compliance with or modification of any of the requirements, including an extension of time for compliance, in accordance with a procedure to be established by the MCLE Committee.

Section 4. Change of status

The compliance period shall begin on the first day of the month in which a member ceases to be exempt under Sections 1, 2, or 3 of this Rule and shall end on the same day as that of all other members in the same Compliance Group. 

Section 5. Proof of exemption

Applications for exemption from or modification of the MCLE requirement shall be under oath and supported by documents. 

Section 1. Approval of MCLE program

Subject to the rules as may be adopted by the MCLE Committee, continuing legal education program may be granted approval in either of two (2) ways: (1) the provider of the activity is an approved provider and certifies that the activity meets the criteria of Section 3 of this Rules; and (2) the provider is specially mandated by law to provide continuing legal education.

Section 2. Standards for all education activities

All continuing legal education activities must meet the following standards: 

Section 1. Approval of providers

Approval of providers shall be done by the MCLE Committee.

Section 2. Requirements for approval of providers

Any persons or group may be approved as a provider for a term of two (2) years, which may be renewed, upon written application. All providers of continuing legal education activities, including in-house providers, are eligible to be approved providers. Application for approval shall: 

All approved providers shall agree to the following: 

The approval of a provider may be renewed every two (2) years. It may be denied if the provider fails to comply with any of the requirements of these Rules or fails to provide satisfactory education activities for the preceding period.

Section 5. Revocation of provider approval

The approval of any provider referred to in Rule 9 may be revoked by a majority vote of the IBP Board of Governors, upon recommendation of the MCLE Committee, after notice and hearing and for good cause. 

Section 1. Payment of fees

Application for approval of an education activity or as a provider requires payment of an appropriate fee. 

Section 1. Compliance card

Each member shall secure from the MCLE Committee a Compliance Card before the end of his compliance period. He shall complete the card by attesting under oath that he has complied with the education requirement or that he is exempt, specifying the nature of the exemption. Such Compliance Card must be returned to the address indicated therein not later than the day after the end of the member's compliance period. 

Section 2. Member record keeping requirementchan robles virtual law library

Each member shall maintain sufficient record of compliance or exemption, copy furnished the MCLE Committee. The record required to be provided to the members by the provider pursuant to Section 3(c) of Rule 9 should be sufficient record of attendance at a participatory activity. A record of non-participatory activity shall also be maintained by the member, as referred to in Section 3 of Rule 5. 

Section 1. What constitutes non-compliance

The following shall constitute non-compliance: 

A member failing to comply will receive a Non-Compliance Notice stating the specific deficiency and will be given sixty (60) days from the date of notification to explain the deficiency or otherwise show compliance with the requirements. Such notice shall contain, among other things, the following language in capital letters: 

Section 1. Non-compliance fee

A member who, for whatever reason, is in non-compliance at the end of the compliance period shall pay a non-compliance fee.

Section 2. Listing as delinquent member

Any member who fails to satisfactorily comply with Section 2 of Rule 12 shall be listed as a delinquent member by the IBP Board of Governors upon the recommendation of the MCLE Committee, in which case, Rule 139-A of the Rules of Court shall apply. 

Section 1. Process

The involuntary listing as a delinquent member shall be terminated when the member provides proof of compliance with the MCLE requirement, including payment of non-compliance fee. A member may attain the necessary credit hours to meet the requirement for the period of non-compliance during the period the member is on inactive status. These credit hours may not be counted toward meeting the current compliance period requirement. Credit hours attained during the period of non-compliance in excess of the number needed to satisfy the prior compliance period requirement may be counted toward meeting the current compliance period requirement.chan robles virtual law library

Section 2. Termination of delinquent listing administrative process

The termination of listing as a delinquent member is administrative in nature but it shall be made with notice and hearing by the MCLE Committee. 

Section 1. Composition

The MCLE Committee shall be composed of five (5) members, namely: a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, as Chair, and four (4) members, respectively, nominated by the IBP, the Philippine Judicial Academy, a law center designated by the Supreme Court and associations of law schools and/or law professors. 

The members of the Committee shall be of proven probity and integrity. They shall be appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of three (3) years and shall receive such compensation as may be determined by the Court.

Section 2. Duty of the Committee

The MCLE Committee shall administer and adopt such implementing rules as may be necessary subject to the approval by the Supreme Court. It shall, in consultation with the IBP Board of Governors, prescribe a schedule of MCLE fees with the approval of the Supreme Court.

Section 3. Staff of the IBPchan robles virtual law library

The IBP shall employ such staff as may be necessary to perform the record-keeping, auditing, reporting, approval and other necessary functions. 

Section 4. Submission of annual budget

The IBP shall submit to the Supreme Court an annual budget for a subsidy to establish, operate and maintain the MCLE Program.

This resolution shall take effect in October 2000, following its publication in two (2) newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Adopted this 22nd day of August, 2000. chan robles virtual law library

Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, Vitug, Kapunan, Mendoza, Panganiban, Quisumbing, Purisima, Pardo, Buena, Gonzaga-Reyes, Ynares-Santiago and De Leon, Jr., JJ., concur.