Recommendations to reduce delays in case disposition are the following: 1. Record and specifically state the date the case was submitted for decision in the decisions of the Labor Arbiter, the NLRC, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. With this information, it can be determined if there was a substantial delay at each level, either before, or after the case has been submitted for decision. 2. Strictly implement at each level a monitoring system on the status of each case in order to determine if the last pleading has already been filed, and whether or not the case should already be submitted for resolution. In many cases, even if the last pleading has already been filed, the cases remain pending for some time without being formally submitted for decision by the court or tribunal. 3. Strictly monitor at each level the date the case was submitted for resolution. The courts/tribunal should also establish a monitoring system for cases that remain unresolved beyond the Constitutionally mandated periods in order to ensure that cases will not remain pending for so many years, especially at the level of the Supreme Court. 4. For courts to notify parties in the event these are unable to comply with the time limits51 set by the constitution on the resolution of cases, as a courtesy and in consideration of the stress and mental anguish that a litigant goes through when pursuing a case. This is in accordance with Section 15(3) of Article VIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which states: “Sec. 15. (1) All cases or matters filed after the effectivity of this Constitution must be decided or resolved within twenty-four months from date of submission for the Supreme Court, and, unless reduced by the Supreme Court, twelve months for all lower collegiate courts, and three months for all other lower courts. “(2) A case or matter should be deemed submitted for decision or resolution upon the filing of the last pleading, brief, or memorandum required by the Rules of Court or by the court itself. “(3) Upon the expiration of the corresponding period, a certification to this effect signed by the Chief Justice or the presiding judge shall forthwith be issued and a copy thereof attached to the record of the case or matter, and served upon the parties. The certification shall state why a decision or resolution has not been rendered or issued within said period. 51 Section 15(3) of Article VIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, states: (1) All cases or matters filed after the effectivity of this Constitution must be decided or resolved within twenty-four months from date of submission for the Supreme Court, and, unless reduced by the Supreme Court, twelve months for all lower collegiate courts, and three months for all other lower courts. (2) A case or matter should be deemed submitted for decision or resolution upon the filing of the last pleading, brief, or memorandum required by the Rules of Court or by the court itself.” 27