Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.2698

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE MARISOL C. PANOTES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Batas Pambansa Bl, 129, as amended, otherwise known as the “Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980” established four (4) regional trial court branches (RTC Branch 38,
39, 40 and 41 all stationed in the Municipality of Daet) for the Province of Camarines Norte at a
time when its population was only 308, 007. After several years, an additional regional trial court
(RTC Branch 64 stationed in the Municipality of Labo) was created to serve the growing
population

As the population of the Province of Camarines Norte continues to grow. so goes the
demand for the dispensation of pending court cases in the province. Based on the 2015 Census of
Population, the province has a population of $83, 313, which has almost doubled when compared
to the time when the four (4) regional trial courts were established. More than three (3) years ago.
the five (5) regional trial courts in the province had a total of 2,683 pending civil and criminal
cases and this number is expected to rise as years go by due to the continuously growing
population. This situation will certainly affect the speedy resolution of cases, which may
eventually lead to miscarriage of justice

It is worthy to mention the words uttered by an eminent American Statesman, Alexander
Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States that, “Laws are a dead letter without
courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation

This bill therefore seeks to create additional two (2) regional trial court branches to be
stationed at the Municipalities of Dact and Labo in the Province of Camarines Norte.

‘The paramount objective of this bill is to address the severe lack of regional trial court
branches that will help prevent the inevitable build up of cases for the great benefit of the people
secking an impartial and speedy resolution of court cases

In view of the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill is eamestly sought

MAR{SOL C. PANOTES:
Representative
Second District, Camarines Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2698

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE MARISOL C, PANOTES

AN ACT
CREATING ADDITIONAL TWO (2) BRANCHES OF REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES NORTE TO BE STATIONED AT
THE MUNICIPALITIES OF DAET AND LABO, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (f) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF
1980” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR:

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

SECTION 1. Section 14 (f) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

“SEC. 14. Regional Trial Courts,— xxx Xxx Xxx
(f) xxx XXX XXX

[Five] SEVEN (7) branches for the province of Camarines Norte,
with [four (4)] FIVE (5) seats at Daet and [one (1) seat] TWO (2) SEATS
at Labo;

SEC. 2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Justice, will include in the Court’s agenda the
operation of the additional Regional Trial Court branches in the Municipalities of
Daet and Labo, Province of Camarines Norte, the funding for which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,