EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 5)
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
HB. No. 5382

Introduced by Representative TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Based on the data of the Supreme Court - Office of Court Administrator, first level
courts have a lower number of pending cases compared to that of the second level courts.
According to their statistics, at the end of 2017, there were 19,832 civil cases pending
with the first level courts. In 2018, there was an inflow of 47,442 cases and an outflow of
45,457 civil cases. By the end of 2018, there were 21,169 pending civil cases. With regard
to the second level courts, at the end of 2017 there were 117,785 pending civil cases. In
2018, there was an inflow of 68,457 civil cases and an outflow of 65,363 civil cases. By
the end of 2018, there were 108,484 pending civil cases.

This bill proposes to enact further amendments to Batas Pambansa (B.P.) Big. 129,
as amended, to increase the jurisdiction in civil cases of the first level courts nationwide,
namely: the Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTCs), Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MCTCs),
Municipal Trial Courts (MTCs), and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTCs).

It should be noted that the last adjustments to the jurisdictional amounts under
various sections of BP 129, as amended by Republic Act No. 7691 or the Judiciary
Reorganization Act happened on the year 2004. Since then, no further adjustments have
been introduced in order to reflect inflation and other factors contributing to the increase
in real property values. Thus, in order to keep up, early passage of this bill is sought.

Tl .

TEODORICO T.HARESCO, JR.



EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. No, 6382

Introduced by Representative TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR.

AN ACT
FURTHER EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL
COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, AND
MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWHISE KNOWN AS THE “JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED

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

1 SECTION 1. Section 19 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the
2 “Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,” As Amended, is hereby amended to read as
3 follows:
4 “Section 19. Jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Courts in Civil Cases. - Regional
5 Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction:
6 XXX
- (2) In all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real
8 property, or any interest therein, where the assessed value exceeds Four
9 Hundred Thousand Pesos (P400,000.00), except for forcible entry into and
10 unlawful detainer of lands or buildings, original jurisdiction over which is
a0] conferred upon the Metropolitan Trial Courts, and Municipal Trial Courts in
12 Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;
13 (3) In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand
14 or claims exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00);
15 (4) inall matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value
16 of the estate exceeds Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00);
17 xxx
18 (8) In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of
19 whatever kind, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses and costs or the value of

20 the property in controversy exceeds Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00).”


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SEC. 2. Section 33 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 33. Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities,
Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in Civil Cases. - Metropolitan
Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal
Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:

(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings,
testate and intestate, including the grant of provisional remedies in proper
cases, where the value of the personal property, estate, or amount of the
demand does not exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00), exclusive of
interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and
costs, the amount of which must be specifically alleged: Provided, That interest
damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs shall
be included in the determination of the filing fees: Provided, further, That where
there are several claims or causes of actions between the same or different
parties, embodied in the same complaint, the amount of the demand shall be
the totality of the claims in all the causes of action, irrespective of whether the
causes of action arose out of the same or different transactions;

XXX

(6)

Exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil actions involve title to, or possession
of, real property, or any interest therein where the assessed value of the
property does not exceed Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (P400,000.00)
exclusive on interest, damage of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation
expenses and costs: Provided, That in cases of land not declared for taxation
purposes, the value of such property shall be determined by the assessed value
of the adjacent lots.

(4) Exclusive original jurisdiction in admiralty and maritime actions where the
demand or claim does not exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00).

SEC 3. Five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act and every five (5) years
thereafter, the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in Sec. 19 (2), (3), (4) and (8), and Sec.
33 (1), (3) and (4) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended by this Act, shall be increased
by One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

SEC 4. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all civil cases that have not yet
reached the pre-trial stage. However, by agreement of all the parties, civil cases
cognizable by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal
Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts by the provisions of this Act may be
transferred from the Regional Trial Courts to the latter. The Supreme Court shall define
the administrative procedure for the transfer of cases affected by the redefinition of
jurisdiction to the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal
Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.


Feary

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SEC 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,
the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions thereof

SEC 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, and orders inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act shall be considered amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,