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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5377

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Divina Grace C. Yu
18 District, Zamboanga Del Sur

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The passage of this bill seeks to create two additional branches each of the Regional
Trial Court (RTC) and the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in the Ninth Judicial
Region to be stationed in the City of Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur.

Pagadian City is the Regional Center of Zamboanga Peninsula and the second-largest
city in the region. According to Philippine Statistics Office, in the last 2015 Census, the
population of Pagadian City was 199,060. Based on these figures, the population density
is computed at 526 inhabitants per square kilometer or 1,361 inhabitants per square
mile.

The increasing growth rate is brought about by the increase in economic activities as
well as the availability of goods and services in the city. This is also due to the expansion
of industrial activities and the booming residential and commercial subdivisions. As
more opportunities became available in the city, the influx of people as well as
corresponding economic growth resulted in an increase of civil and criminal cases which
slowed down the disposition of cases. The volume of cases currently pending before the
RTCs and MTCCs affects the speedy disposition of cases.

‘The proposal to create additional branches seeks to address the growing demand for the
immediate resolution of cases.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. ce

Introduced by Representative Divina Grace C. Yu
1" District, Zamboanga Del Sur

AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
AND TWO (2) ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES IN
PAGADIAN CITY, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE “JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Two (2) additional branches of the Regional Trial Court branches
and two (2) additional branches of the Municipal Trial Court to be stationed in
the City of Pagadian, Province of Zamboanga del Sur, are hereby created in the
Ninth Judicial Region.

‘The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the newly
created branches of the Regional Trial Court and Municipal Trial Court.

Section 2. 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 the additional branches of the Regional Trial
Court, and the Municipal Trial Court to be stationed in the City of Pagadian,
Province of Zamboanga del Sur, the funding of which shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 3. Section 14 (1) and Section 29 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise
known as “ The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended and all other
laws, rules and regulations that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 4. This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.