Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifleenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__1174

Introduced by Hon. Niel Junjun® C. Tupas, Jr
Fifth (S") District, Hoilo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create two (2) additional Regional Trial Court (RTC) branches in
the Province of Hoilo with seats at the Municipality of Barotac Viejo.

RTC Branch 66 located in Barotac Viejo, Hoilo is a single sala court covering a
territorial jurisdiction composed of thirteen (13) towns in Northern Iloilo. Based on the
comments and recommendations of the Office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme
Court dated 22 May 2006, RTC Branch 66 received 535 and 594 cases in 2004 and 2005,
respectively. As of December 2005, the said court had 1,475 pending cases which is way
beyond the ideal case load of 200-250 cases for one RTC. The records of the Office of
the Court Administrator show that the Presiding Judge in the said court had difficulty
disposing cases due to the heavy case load. This prompted the Office of the Court
Administrator to designate as assisting judge in RTC Branch 66 to help in the disposition
of cases. It has also recommended the creation of an additional RTC in Barotac Viejo.

The creation of an additional RTC in Barotac Viejo is an ideal way of easing the
case load of RTC Branch 66 and of ensuring the speedy disposition of cases in Northern
Milo. The Municipality of Barotac Viejo has a strategic location and is easily accessible
to litigants who may be coming from the 12 other towns under its jurisdiction beacause
the road network connects to Barotac Viejo

For the foregoing reasons and to improve the justice system in our country,
approval of this bill is earnestly sought

L
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TEL*JUNJUN” C. TUPAS, JK.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

no, 1174

HOUSE BI

Introduced by Hon. Niel Junjun™ C. Tupas, Jr
Fifth (5"") District, Hoilo

AN ACT
CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES IN
THE PROVINCE OF ILOILO Witlt SEATS AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF
BAROTAC VIEJO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,
PARAGRAPH (G) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG 129 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, AS AMENDED, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 14, Paragraph (g) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 otherwise
known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,as amended, is hereby further

amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 14. Regional Trial Courts.-

XXX

(g) [Sixty-nine] SEVENTY ONE Regional Trial Judges shall
be commisioned for the Sixth Judicial Region. There shall be:

xxx

[Twenty-two] TWENTY-FOUR branches with seats thereat for
the Province of Iloilo, the Sub-province of Guimaras, and the City of
Iloilo, with seats at Iloilo City, Barotac Viejo, Guimbal and

Dumangas.

XXX


SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the additional Regional Trial Court

branches at the Municipality of Barotac Viejo.

SECTION 3. The Supreme Court shall cause the construction of the office of the
additional Regional Trial Court branches in Barotac Viejo and the assignment of the
Presiding Judge thereat

SECTION 4, The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Justice shall immediately include in the court's program
the operationalization of two (2) additional Regional Trial Court branches in the Province
of Iloilo with seat at the Municipality of Barotac Viejo, the funding for which shall be
included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval

Approved,