Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

aX

RECEIVED

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

Ks
onre04 DEC 2017 I

6751

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 16, Article III of the 1987 Constitution provides that “All persons shall

have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before alll judicial, quasi-
judicial, or administrative bodies.”

Pursuant to this constitutional mandate, it is imperative for the State to
increase the number of courts to meet the increasing number of cases being
filed and to improve the administration of justice by facilitating the early
resolution of judicial controversies.

To date, there exists two (2) Regional Trial Court branches in the third district
of Zamboanga del Norte, with a seat in the Municipalities of Liloy and Siocon.
However, the lone court in Liloy has a total caseload of 842 as of December
2016, which exceeds the manageable level of 300 cases as recommended by
the Supreme Court’s Office of the Court Administrator. In that year alone,
only 68 out of the accumulated 910 pending and newly filed cases had been
decided or resolved in RTC Liloy, which in effect results to a 7.47% disposition
of cases on a yearly average.

The high caseload invariably results in clogged court docket, slow dispensation
of justice, and erosion of the people’s trust in our justice system. This
measure, duly supported by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Zamboanga
del Norte Chapter, seeks to address these problems.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Sect Huber


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth
Second Regular Session

6751

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ISAGANI S. AMATONG

AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN
THE 3®D DISTRICT OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF LILOY, 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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Sec. 1. One (1) Regional Trial Court branch for Municipality of Liloy, with seat
thereat, is hereby created in the Ninth Judicial Region.

Sec. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the newly
created branch.

Sec. 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the
Secretary of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court’s program the
implementation of this Act. The amount necessary for the creation and the
continuous funding therefore shall likewise be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act. The funds necessary shall be appropriated and released
only upon the actual organization of the court and appointment of its
personnel.

Sec. 4. Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980,” as amended, as well as other provisions that may
be inconsistent herewith, are hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further
amended.

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

Approved,