FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
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COMMITTEE REPORT NO. "47 
Submitted by the Committees on Justice and Human Rights; and Finance on MAY - 6 2008 . 
Re: Senate Bill No. 1976. 
Recommending its approval without amendment. 
Sponsors: Senators Escudero, Enrile and War. 
MR. PRESIDENT: 
The Committees on Justice and Human Rights; and Finance to which was referred Senate Bill 
No. 1976, introduced by Senator War, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
CREATING FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF METROPOLITAN TRIAL 
COURTS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS 
THE 
JUDICIARY 
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" 
have considered the same and have the honor to report it back to the Senate with 
recommendation that it be approved without amendment. 
the 
Respectfully Submitted: 
Chairmen: 
FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 
Member, Committee on Finance 
Member, Committee on %stice and Human Rights 


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Corriirriilee Repor? 011 SBNo. /976- MTC Narronal Cnpilal Region. 
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EDGARDO 
2 0  A& 
J. NGARA 
Committee on Finance 
Vice-Chairmen: 
n 
“NOYNOY” AQUINO 1111 
and Human Rights 
JOKER P. ARROYO 
Committee on Finance 
L +* 
MIRIAM DEFE 
OR SANTIA 
Committee on Fi&nce 
” 
Members: 
“C &kb%Y 
MP NERA PIAS. CAYETANO 
Committee on Ju&e 
and Human Rights 
Committee on Finance 
ALAN PETER TOMPANERO” s. CAYETANO 
Committee on Justice and Human Rights 
and Human Rights 
Commiffe on Justice and Human Rights 
Commitdon Finance 
ittee on Justice and Human Rights 
Comkitiee on Justice and Human Rights 
Committee on Finance n 
“LITO” M. LAPID rr” 
MA 
Committee on Finance 


Coarillrrree Reporl on SBNo. 1976- MTC National Capital Region. 
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Committee on Finance 
Committee on F i n a e  
ANTONIO “SONNY” F. TRILLANES IV 
Committee on Finance 
Ex-Officio Members: 
AQ LlNO Q. PIMENTEL JR. 
Minority Leader 
Hon. MANNY VILLAR 
Senate President 
Senate of the Philippines 
Pasay City 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
7 %!: 121 ,":" 
First Regular Session 
I <LL\VEi:, .">' : 
SENATE 
S .  B. No.:= 
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Introduced by Senator Villar 
Explanatory Note 
The need for the creation of additional branches of the Metropolitan Trial Court 
(MeTC) within the National Capital Region grows more evident with each passing year, 
particularly with the current population growth as well as with the expanded jurisdiction 
being vested on said courts. 
While the Supreme Court considers the "ideal" case load of a single MeTC Branch at 
GOO to 700 cases for effective handling management and disposition, most MeTCs, especially 
the single-sala courts, have a case load of at least 300% more than the aforementioned "ideal" 
number. 
In Las Pinas City, which only has one (1) MeTC as compared to ten (IO) Regional 
Trial Courts (RTCs), the current case load of the single MeTC Branch therein, Branch 79, is 
approximately FIVE THOUSAND (5,000) cases. With the current trend of the City's 
population growth, which increased by 105,919 from the year 2000 up to 2007, or in aperiod 
of seven (7) years, and with the average number of case inflow of around 200 cases being 
filed with the MeTC monthly, the case load of MeTC Branch 79 will not be reduced 
substantially, if at all, and may even increase in the forthcoming years. This, despite the best 
efforts of Its presiding judge and staE 
Further, the limited resources (like office supplies and other equipment) and 
manpower allocated to said branch as a single-sala MeTC court, which resources and 
manpower have not increased all these years, ate no longer sufficient to effectively handle the 
current case load of said branch. 
Add to these the fact that the jurisdiction of the first-level courts like the MeTCs is 
regularly being expanded, with the enactment of criminal statutes and other special laws as 
well as city ordinances vesting jurisdiction upon the first-level courts over cases and disputes 
emanating therefrom, as well as with the expanded jurisdiction vested upon said first-level 
courts by by R.A. 7691 and other pertinent rules of procedure. 
All of these factors negatively affect the best efforts of MeTC Branch 79 to afford the 
constituents of Las Pinas City a speedy administration and delivery ofjustice. 
To address the foregoing problem, this bill proposes the creation of FIVE (5) 
additional branches of the Metxopolitan Trial Courts, with seats in Las Pinas City. With 
additional branches, the current case load of the single-sala MeTC in Las Pinas City of 5,000 
cases will be divided and distributed to six (6) MeTC courts, resulting to approximately 840 


cases per MeTC branch. This case load is already near the “ideaP’case load number of 600 to 
700 per MeTC as estimated by the Supreme Court. 
Further, with the additional branches, the effort of affording the constituents of Las 
Pinas City easier access to, and speedier administration of, justice in the first-level courts will 
finally he realized. 
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The immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MAN @ 
YVIL AR 
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FOURlEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REP(JBI.1C OF THE P I I ~ ~ I P I ’ I ~ E S  
First Regular Session 
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S. 8. No. 197% 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
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AN ACT 
CREATING FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF METROPOLITAN TRIAL 
PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
COURTS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, AMENDING FOR THE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 27 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 is hereby amended to read as 
“SEC. 27.’ Metropolitan Trial courts of the National Capital Region- 
There shall be a Metropolitan Trial Court in the National Capital 
Region,to be known as’ the Metropolitan Trial Court of Metro Manila, 
which shall be composed of EIGHTY-SEVEN (87) branches. There shall 
be: 
follows: 
xxx 
SIX (6) branches (Branches LXXIX and Branches LXXXIII to LXXXVII) 
for the Citv of Las Pinas. with seats thereat;” 
SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the additional five (5) branches of the 
Metropolitan Trial Court as mentioned in Section 1 hereof specifically Branches LXXXlIl to 
LXXXVII, in the City of Las Pinas, with seats thereat. 
SEC. 3. The Chief Justice ofthe Supreme Court in coordination with the Secretary of 
Justice shall ,without delay, include in Its program the immediate operationalization of the 
five (5) additional Metropolitan Trial courts in the City of Las Pinas, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, letters of instruction, 
executive orders, rules and regulations, or any part thereof inconsistent with this Act shall be 
amended or modified accordingly. 


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Approved, 
SEC. 5. Eflectivi@. - This Act shall take effect fifieen (15) days after its complete 
pubiication in the Offkial Oazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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