Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7325

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. DANILO E. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2004, by virtue of Republic Act No. 9247, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in
Catanauan, Quezon Province was created, Since its operation, cases filed in the said
Court have been handled by its sole Judge. In 2017, there were 312 cases, or an
average of 26 cases per month, filed in the Catanauan Judicial District. Meanwhile,
almost the same number of cases was handled by the Judicial District of Gumaca,
Quezon which has four (4) RTC branches. Given the high volume of cases assigned,
the RTC Catanauan is likely to suffer from clogged dockets. It is feared that delay in
the administration of justice is possible and inevitable with this congestion.

In accordance with the constitutional mandate of ensuring the right to speedy
disposition of cases, this bill therefore seeks the creation of three (3) additional
Regional Trial Court branches to be stationed in the Municipality of Catanauan,
Province of Quezon. With the passage of this bill, it is hoped that the creation of the
additional RTC branches will help relieve the Court of case congestion.

In view of the foregoing and in the interest of expeditious and competent delivery of
justice, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

DANILO E. SUAREZ
Representative

3rd District, Quezon Province


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7325

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. DANILO E. SUAREZ

AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
BRANCHES IN THE FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE
MUNICIPALITY OF CALAUAG, PROVINCE OF QUEZON, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 (E) OF THE BATAS PAMBANSA
BILANG 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION
ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Three (3) additional Regional Trial Court branches are hereby
created in the Fourth Judicial Region to be stationed at the Municipality of
Catanauan, Quezon province.

The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly-created
branch of the Regional Trial Court in the Fourth Judicial Region.

SEC. 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 three (3) additional branches of the Regional
Trial Court in the Municipality of Calauag, Province of Quezon. The funding of
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The funds
necessary for the operation of the Court herein created shall be appropriated and
released only upon the actual organization of the Court and the appointment of its
personnel.

SEC. 3. Section 14 (e) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known as "The
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended, and all other laws, rules, and


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regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed, or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general
circulation in the Philippines, whichever comes earlier.

Approved.