Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 2655 _

INTRODUCED BY REP. JB BERNOS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 16, Article IIT of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides: “All persons shall have
the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or
administrative bodie:

” However, due to perennial clogging of the court dockets in the
country, this constitutional right has become illusory to many Filipinos.

As of February 2019, there are three (3) Regional Trial Court branches in Abra: two (2)
in the Municipality of Bangued and one (1) in the Municipality of Bucay. There is also one (1)
unorganized branch in Bangued. As the highest trial courts in the country, the RTC branches
in Abra are important in resolving legal conflicts within its jurisdiction, but the growing
population of the Province resulted to growing poli

cal, social, and economic interactions
among its inhabitants, which may lead to a sharp rise in the number of court litigations and
disputes. In the past three (3) years, these branches have seen a sharp increase in the cases
handled by the RTC branches in the Province of Abra, primarily due to land-related disputes
and to the anti-illegal drug campaign of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Im addition, owing to the geographic features of the Province, people have to travel long
distances to reach courthouses in the provincial capital town of Bangued. Hence, establishing
an additional branch will give our constituents a nearer option for their legal needs, lessening
the workload on the already existing branches and facilitating swift resolution of cases,

‘The lack of available court salas crates a serious backlog of cases that immensely
contributes to the delay in the administration of justice. Furthermore, the Province of Abra
has produced a number of professionals in the legal services sector, who could benefit from.
the opportunities arising from the establishment of another RTC branch. They will be able to
hone their skills and be in the service of their fellow Abrefios in need of immediate legal


services and speedy resolution of their cases. Hence, this Bill seeks to create one (1) additional
branch of the Regional Trial Court in the Province of Abra, to be located in the Municipality

of La Paz, where it will be able to cater to municipalities in the western areas of the Province
of Abra.

In view of the foregoing and in the interest of expeditious, fair, and impartial delivery
of justice to the People of Abra, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 26 59)

INTRODUCED BY REP. JB BERNOS

AN ACT
ING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF ABRA TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF LA PAZ, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSES SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (A) 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1, One (1) additional branch of the Regional Trial Court to be stationed in
the Municipality of La Paz, Province of Abra is hereby created in the First Judicial
Region.

‘The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the newly created Regional
Trial Court.

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
implementation of this Act. The funding therefore shall likewise be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the
Courts herein created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual
organization of the Courts and the appointment of its personnel.


Section 14 (a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary

Reorganization Act of 1980”, as. amended, and all other laws, rules,
wi

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

Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the

Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.