Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE REGIONAL COURTS OF LABOR RELATIONS 
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE SUPREME COURT, THEREBY ABOLISHING 
THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A speedy disposition of cases is not only a constitutional guarantee, but also an 
essential element of both justice and peaceful relations. This is particularly true in the 
realm of labor employment, where the ability of a worker to bring home enough income 
to feed his or her family, or the sustainability of an employer’s business endeavor, can 
hinge on a final resolution to a labor dispute. 
While there are many factors that may be considered to expedite such proceedings, 
rendering the decisions of Labor Arbiters directly appealable to the Court of Appeals, 
rather than the National Labor Relations Commission, is one method that would 
engender immediate results. A road map for such change is provided by the late 
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago’s Senate Bill No. 1848, filed in the sixteenth 
Congress, which we are filing in the House with several changes. This bill reduces by 
one the layers of appellate review that a labor dispute may go through, while providing 
for a smooth transition to the new procedural regime. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
August 23, 2023
1:12 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE REGIONAL COURTS OF LABOR RELATIONS UNDER 
THE SUPERVISION OF THE SUPREME COURT, THEREBY ABOLISHING THE 
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishing the Regional Court of Labor Relations; Abolishing the 
National Labor Relations Commission. – There is hereby established the Regional Courts 
of Labor Relations (RCLR) under the supervision of the Supreme Court, thereby abolishing 
the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). All unexpended funds, properties, 
equipment, and records of the NLRC and such of its personnel as may be necessary are 
hereby transferred to the Regional Courts of Labor Relations under the administrative and 
fiscal supervision of the Supreme Court; Provided, that no Regional Courts of Labor Relations 
or Local Branches are defined herein, shall be in operation until the end of the Qualification 
Period found in Section 3. 
SEC. 2. Incumbent Labor Arbiters; Preference and Qualification. – The incumbent 
Labor Arbiters shall be given special consideration should they apply as Judges of the 
Regional Court of Labor Relations in the regions where they are residing and holding office 
at the date of effectivity of this Act; Provided, that they shall have duly completed the 
necessary courses of the Philippine Judicial Academy to qualify as judges under Republic 
Act No. 8557 by the end of the Qualification Period; Provided, further, that the Philippine 
Judicial Academy shall create a special batch/es and/or curriculum to ensure that all 
interested incumber labor arbiters have the chance to complete the necessary courses before 
the end of the Qualification Period; Provided, further, that Labor Arbiters who are unable to 
qualify within the Qualification Period shall be deemed to have accepted retirement or 
separation pay under Section 6 of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Qualification Period. – This period shall be defined as twelve months from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Existing Regional Arbitration Branches converted to Regional Courts of 
Labor Relations Local Branches. – The existing Regional Arbitration Branches nationwide 
shall be converted to Local branches of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations without 
increasing the approved plantilla for Labor Arbitrators nationwide. The number of seats for 
the Judges of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations in each Local branch shall correspond 
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to the number of plantilla positions for Labor Arbiters there immediately preceding the 
implementation of this Act. Each Local Branch shall be headed by an Executive Judge of the 
Regional Courts of Labor Relations. 
 
SEC. 5. Retirement or Separation of NLRC Commissioners. – Consequent to the 
abolition of the NLRC, incumbent Commissioners who have attained sixty (60) years of age 
and have rendered at least twenty (20) years in government service, the last five (5) years of 
which shall have been continuously rendered as Commissioner, shall be deemed 
compulsorily retired with full retirement gratuity and pension pursuant to applicable laws. 
Those who lack any of the above qualifications shall receive a separation pay equivalent to 
two (2) months’ salary for every year of service in government. 
 
SEC. 6. Optional Retirement or Severance Pay for an Incumbent Labor Arbiter. – 
Incumbent Labor Arbiters who have attained the age of sixty (60) years and have rendered 
at least twenty (20) years in government service, the last five (5) years of which shall have 
been continuously rendered as Labor Arbiter, shall be qualified for optional retirement. Those 
who lack any of the above qualifications and/or have no intention to assume the position as 
Judges of the Regional Court of Labor Relations pursuant to Section 2 hereof, shall be 
entitled to a severance pay equivalent to two (2) months’ salary for every year of government 
service. The choice for severance pay must be exercise within a period of sixty (60) calendar 
days after the effectivity of this Act; otherwise, said option shall be deemed waived. 
 
SEC. 7. Retirement Gratuity and Pension of Qualified Commissioners and Labor 
Arbiters. – Commissioners who are qualified for compulsory retirement and incumbent Labor 
Arbiters who are qualified for optional retirement pursuant to Section 3 and Section 4 of this 
Act shall, respectively, be entitled to the full retirement gratuity and pension provided for 
under applicable laws. 
 
SEC. 8. Subsequent Appointments to the Regional Courts of Labor Relations. – 
Subject to Sections 2 and 4 of this Act, the President shall appoint Judges to the Regional 
Courts of Labor Relations from a list of at least three (3) nominees prepared by the Judicial 
and Bar Council for every vacant position; Provided, that said nominees shall meet the 
qualifications as those of the Judges of the Regional Trial Courts. Such appointments need 
no confirmation. 
 
SEC. 9. Parity in Rank, Salaries, Benefits, Other Emoluments, and Retirement 
Gratuity. – Judges of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations shall have the same rank, 
receive an annual salary equivalent to, and be entitled to the same allowances, retirement 
gratuity, and other benefits and privileges as those of the Judges of the Regional Trial Courts 
pursuant to applicable laws. They shall hold office during good behavior until they reach the 
age of seventy (70) years, unless sooner removed for cause as provided for by law or become 
incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office. 
 
SEC. 10. Jurisdiction of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations. – The Regional 
Courts of Labor Relations shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases 
enumerated under Article 217 of the Labor Code, as amended, including complaints of 
Overseas Filipino Workers pursuant to Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the 
Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995. Other provisions of the Labor no 
inconsistent with this Act shall continue to be applied. 
 


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SEC. 11. Nature of Proceedings Before the Regional Courts of Labor Relations. – 
Technical rules of procedure shall not be strictly applied to proceedings before the Regional 
Courts of Labor Relations. 
 
SEC. 12. Applicability of the Alternative Dispute Resolution System Law (ADR) in 
Labor Cases. – Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, pertinent provisions of 
the Alternative Dispute Resolution System (ADR) through the use of voluntary arbitration, 
mediation, and conciliation process established under Republic Act No. 9285 and other 
applicable laws currently being implemented in the Regional Trial Courts shall likewise be 
applied in the resolution of labor cases before the Regional Courts of Labor Relations. 
 
SEC. 13. Appeal from the Regional Courts of Labor Relations. – An appeal may be 
taken from a judgment or final order that completely disposes of the case, rendered by a 
Judge of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations to the Court of Appeals pursuant to the 
Rules of Court; Provided, however, that the Supreme Court may promulgate rules and 
regulations specifically suited to the proceedings before the Regional Courts of Labor 
Relations as a court with specialized jurisdiction. 
 
SEC. 14. Personnel Retention or Movement; Position and Salary Grade 
Reclassification. – Personnel assigned in the office of the Labor Arbiter shall be retained 
and their position classification, salary grade, level, and benefits shall correspondingly be 
adjusted to confirm with the staffing pattern of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations. 
Subject to the personnel guidelines to be issued by the Supreme Court, personnel in the 
NLRC with permanent appointments shall either be transferred to the office of the Judges of 
the Regional Courts of Labor Relations to augment their support staff or to the administrative 
offices in the Local Branches. 
 
SEC. 15. Personnel Separated from Service. – Personnel separated from the service 
as a result of the implementation of this Act shall enjoy the rights and protection provided 
them under existing laws and such other pertinent rules and regulations. In any case, no lay-
offs shall be effect until funds to cover the gratuity and/or retirement benefits of those laid off 
are duly certified as available. 
 
SEC. 16. Transitory Provision; Disposition of Pending Cases During Winding-Up 
Period. – All pending cases before the incumbent Labor Arbiters and the Divisions of the 
NLRC shall be disposed of by them within the winding-up period of not more than one 
hundred eighty (180) days. Thereafter, for cases before the Divisions of the NLRC, 
unresolved cases shall be deemed appealed to the Court of Appeals pursuant to the Rules 
of Court and Records thereof shall be forwarded by the Commission to the Court of Appeals. 
For unresolved cases of the incumbent Labor Arbiters, their records shall be forwarded to the 
Interim Regional Courts of Labor Relations under Section 17. 
 
SEC. 17. Transitory Provision; Disposition of Subsequent Cases Before the 
Establishment of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations. – Pending the establishment 
and operation of the Regional Courts of Labor Relations, and the appointment of designated 
judges, the Supreme Court shall designate Interim Regional Courts of Labor Relations from 
among the branches of the Regional Trial Court; Provided, that at least sixteen (16) such 
courts shall be designated in Luzon, two (2) in the Visayas, and two (2) in Mindanao, with the 
selection of the locations of the courts taking into account continuity of the services previously 
provided by the NLRC, as well as geographic accessibility, case load of the RTC, and the 
major concentrations of labor cases; Provided, finally, that after the initial designation of 


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Interim Regional Courts of Labor Relations, the Supreme Court may designate addition 
Interim Regional Courts of Labor Relations as the need arises. 
 
SEC. 18. Appropriations; Funding Source. – The amount necessary for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the unexpended funds as a result of the 
abolition of the NLRC. The fees collected and interests on deposits by the Regional Courts 
of Labor Relations shall accrue to the funds provided for under Republic Act No. 9227, as 
part of the funding source for special allowance of the Judges of the Regional Courts of Labor 
Relations similar to that of the Judges of the Regional Trial Courts. Any deficiency shall be 
sourced out of any funds in the National Treasure not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, 
such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be 
included in the budget of the Supreme Court for the succeeding General Appropriations Acts. 
 
SEC. 19. Issuance of Implementing Guidelines. – The Supreme Court, the 
Department of Labor Employment, and the Secretary of Budget and Management, shall issue 
the necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days 
from approval hereof. 
 
SEC. 20. Separability Clause. – If any portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and 
effect.  
 
SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive issuances, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.  
 
SEC 22. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,