Supreme Court Revises Rules on Summary Procedure to Expedite Cases

Background

The Supreme Court has approved amendments to the Rules on Summary Procedure (A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC) aimed at further expediting the resolution of cases covered by summary procedure. The amendments were promulgated in June 2026 and took effect 15 days after publication.

The revisions are part of the judiciary's ongoing efforts to reduce case backlog and improve access to justice, particularly for low-value claims and urgent matters such as ejectment.

Key Amendments

The amended rules introduce the following changes:

• •The jurisdictional amount for cases under the Rules on Summary Procedure has been increased from ₱200,000 to ₱1,000,000 for Metro Manila courts, and from ₱100,000 to ₱400,000 for courts outside Metro Manila. This aligns with the jurisdictional limits of first-level courts.
• •The period to file an answer has been reduced from 10 days to 7 days from receipt of the summons.
• •Preliminary conferences are now mandatory and must be scheduled within 30 days from the filing of the answer, instead of the previous 45-day window.
• •Courts are required to render judgment within 30 days from the preliminary conference, reduced from the previous 60-day period.
• •Motion for reconsideration must be filed within 5 days from receipt of judgment, reduced from 15 days.

Impact on Practice

The shortened timelines require lawyers to be more efficient in case preparation:

• •Answers must be prepared and filed within 7 days — firms should have templates ready for common case types.
• •Preliminary conference preparation must begin immediately upon filing of the answer, as the conference is now scheduled within 30 days.
• •Evidence must be pre-marked and ready for the preliminary conference, as courts are expected to render judgment shortly after.
• •Lawyers should advise clients of the expedited timeline at the outset to manage expectations.

Cases Covered

The Rules on Summary Procedure apply to the following types of cases:

• •Civil cases for collection of sum of money within the jurisdictional amount
• •Ejectment cases (unlawful detainer and forcible entry)
• •Cases involving recovery of personal property within the jurisdictional amount
• •Civil cases for damages within the jurisdictional amount (excluding those involving moral and exemplary damages in excess of ₱100,000)