NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to create an additional branch of Family Court in the Tenth Judicial Region to 
be stationed in the City of Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental. 
Section 16, Article IlI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that, "All persons shall have 
the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative 
bodies." The Constitution mandates the Judiciary to deliver speedy and equal justice for all. 
Furthermore, the Child and Youth Welfare Code mandates the paramount consideration of 
the best interest of the Child. 
At present, Cagayan de Oro City is a 1st class Highly Urbanized City in the province of Misamis 
Oriental. According to the 2020 census, it has a growing population of 728,402 people. 
Cagayan de Or serves as a regional center and business hub of Northern Mindanao. 
The Supreme Court's annual reports cite the perennial problem of clogged dockets, case 
delay, and scarce resources that continue to beset the Judiciary. Furthermore, congestion and 
slow court administrative systems exacerbate the situation. The Strategic Plan for Judicial 
Innovations (2022-2027) attributes these problems to scarce resources, poor court-to-
population ratio, among others. 
The Family Courts in Cagayan de Oro City are inundated with cases causing backlog to the 
detriment of the public. 
This proposal to create an additional branch seeks to proactively address the court-to-
population ratio and the growing demand for the immediate resolution of cases. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
April 12, 2023
6:30 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF FAMILY COURT IN THE TENTH JUDICIAL 
REGION TO BE STATIONED IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, PROVINCE OF MISAMIS 
ORIENTAL, 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 Family Court in the Tenth Judicial Region is hereby 
created and stationed in Cagayan de Oro City, Province of Misamis Oriental in accordance 
with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8369, otherwise known as the “Family Courts Act of 
1997”. 
The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the newly created 
branches of the 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 operationalization 
of the additional branch of Family Court in the Tenth Judicial Region stationed in Cagayan de 
Oro City, Province of Misamis Oriental. 
SEC. 3. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act, including appropriations for 
personnel services such as salaries, benefits and emoluments for judges and court personnel, 
court operations under maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), and provisions 
for Halls of Justice or court rooms to accommodate judges and court staff, shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette 
or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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