Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 842

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill provides for the creation of five (5) additional branches of the Regional Trial
Court in the National Capital Judicial Region to be stationed in Muntinlupa City, Metro
Manila. For this purpose, it seeks to further amend Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise
known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”.

The dispensation of justice requires, among others, that we should have enough courts
to try cases. Clogging results when there are not enough courts to try cases. Nowhere is this
very apparent than in the City of Muntinlupa, In a letter addressed to this representation, the
honorable judges of the Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa City averred:

“Various measures have been undertaken by the Supreme Court to help the courts
unclog its dockets and ensure the expeditious settlement of cases like the
establishment of Philippine Mediation Center to mediate and settle cases amicably
between parties before going to adversarial proceedings; the settlement of cases by
way of Judicial Dispute Resolution; or the implementation of continuous trial of
cases. However noble the rationale of these remedies, it is very unfortunate that these
remedies did not unburden our courts even to the slightest extent.

At present, RTC Muntinlupa City has seven (7) branches, two (2) of which are
special courts — Family and Commercial Courts. As of July 2017, a total of 4,496
cases are pending before our courts. Notwithstanding our collective efforts to hear
and decide cases expeditiously, our courts are flooded with drug-related cases as a
result of the “war against drugs” initiated by the government, in addition to the
regular cases that are filed before us. Our courts have difficulty coping with the heavy
load of cases. With the limited number of court employees we have, our courts are
overburdened.”

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought,

woe B.BIAZON

Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 842

—_—

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

—

AN ACT
CREATING FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN
MUNTINLUPA CITY, METRO MANILA, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE 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 Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Five (5) additional Regional Trial Court branches for Muntinlupa City
with seats thereat, are hereby created in the National Capital Judicial Region.

SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the newly
created branches.

SEC. 3. 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
implementation of this Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the Courts herein created
shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the Courts and the
appointment of its personnel.

SEC. 4. Section 14(d) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 otherwise known as "The Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended, and all other laws, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,