In the Philippine legal system, the adage "justice delayed is justice denied" is not merely a moral sentiment; it is a constitutional command. The 1987 Constitution and the Rules of Court prescribe specific, mandatory timeframes within which judges and justices must resolve pending incidents and decide cases. These periods serve as a check against judicial lethargy and ensure the efficient administration of justice.

I. The Constitutional Mandate

The bedrock of these prescriptive periods is Section 15, Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution. This provision classifies the periods for deciding cases based on the hierarchy of the courts:

Supreme Court: Within twenty-four (24) months from the date of submission.
Court of Appeals (and other collegiate intermediate courts): Within twelve (12) months from the date of submission.
Lower Courts (Regional Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts): Within ninety (90) days (three months) from the date of submission.

The "Submitted for Decision" Trigger

A case or matter is deemed "submitted for decision" upon the filing of the last pleading, brief, or memorandum required by the Rules of Court or by the court itself. Once this point is reached, the "constitutional clock" begins to tick.

II. Periods for Resolving Motions

While the Constitution focuses on the final judgment, the Rules of Court and various administrative circulars govern the resolution of interlocutory motions and specific post-judgment reliefs.

1. Motions for Reconsideration (MR) and New Trial

Under Rule 37 (for trial courts) and Rule 52 (for the Court of Appeals), the court is generally mandated to resolve a Motion for Reconsideration or a Motion for New Trial within thirty (30) days from the time it is submitted for resolution.

2. General Interlocutory Motions

Under Rule 15, most motions must be resolved promptly. While not all motions have a specific day-count in the Rules, the 90-day rule for lower courts (as cited in the Constitution and the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980) is applied to almost all pending incidents that require a court's resolution.

III. Special Jurisdictions and Summary Procedure

In cases requiring expedited resolution, the periods are significantly shorter:

Rules on Summary Procedure: For small claims or certain ejectment cases, the court must often render judgment within thirty (30) days after the termination of the proceedings.
Habeas Corpus: Decisions must be rendered immediately after the hearing is concluded.
Amparo and Habeas Data: These environmental and human rights writs require resolution within very tight windows, often within ten (10) days from submission.

IV. The "Certification" Requirement

To ensure compliance, the Constitution requires that any decision or resolution must contain a certification signed by the Chief Justice or the presiding justice/judge. This certification states that the conclusions of the court were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to a member for the writing of the opinion.

Furthermore, Section 15(4) of Article VIII stipulates that if a case is not decided within the required period, the court must issue a certification stating the reasons why a decision or resolution has not been rendered within that period.

V. Administrative and Salary Consequences

The Supreme Court, through the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA), strictly monitors these periods.

Withholding of Salary: Judges are required to submit a "Monthly Report of Cases" and a "Certificate of Service." If a judge has cases that are "overdue" (beyond the 90-day period), their salary may be withheld until the pending cases are resolved.
Administrative Sanctions: Failure to decide a case within the statutory period constitutes gross inefficiency. This can lead to fines, suspension, or, in chronic cases of delay, dismissal from the service.
Retirement Benefits: A judge cannot clear their retirement papers without certifying that all cases submitted for decision during their tenure have been disposed of.

VI. Exceptions and Extensions

While the periods are mandatory, the Supreme Court recognizes that heavy caseloads or "fortuitous events" (such as illness or natural disasters) can hinder compliance.

Request for Extension: A judge may file a request for an extension of time with the Supreme Court/OCA before the original 90-day period expires. Such requests are usually granted for an additional 30 to 90 days, provided the reasons are meritorious.
Effect of Failure to Decide: It is important to note that a court's failure to decide within the prescriptive period does not divest the court of its jurisdiction. The court retains the power to decide the case, although the judge remains administratively liable for the delay.

VII. Summary Table of Prescriptive Periods

Level of Court	Period to Render Judgment	Source
Supreme Court	24 Months	Constitution, Art. VIII, Sec. 15
Court of Appeals	12 Months	Constitution, Art. VIII, Sec. 15
Regional Trial Court	90 Days	Constitution / BP Blg. 129
Municipal Trial Court	90 Days	Constitution / BP Blg. 129
Summary Procedure	30 Days	Rules on Summary Procedure
Motions (General)	90 Days	Judiciary Act / Admin. Policy
Motions for Recon.	30 Days	Rules of Court (Rules 37/52)