Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2362

Introduced by
HONORABLE NELSON S. LEGACION
Representative, 3rd District, Camarines Sur

EXPLANATORY NOTE

For almost 45 years now since “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980” was
passed, the Municipality of Calabanga, one of the most populous municipalities in the
Province of Camarines Sur, situated on the coastal fringes of San Miguel Bay in
Camarines Sur, was not given its own second-level court of law until recently.
Moreover, with the fast-increasing number of its population, coupled with the
municipalities of Garchitorena, Siruma, and Tinambac, where its lower courts are
situated in, comes an expected increase in the volume of cases it would be faced with
for the years to come.

Meanwhile, the City of Naga, owing as well to its fast-growing population, and
its ever-increasing number of cases filed by citizens falling inside and outside of its
jurisdiction, is still in need of additional courts. In particular, one (1) branch of the
Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Naga City alone must manage and resolve almost
8,000 cases, causing lengthy delays in the resolution of cases by litigants before it.
Another Regional Trial Court is likewise needed to further address potential appeals
from cases coming from the first-level courts under its jurisdiction, as well as an
expected increase in the volume of cases that may be filed before it as a result of the
foregoing.


The insufficient number of courts, in turn, frustrates several rights of litigants
before them, the most notable of which is Section 16, Article 111 of our Constitution.
Said provision guarantees each person the right to a speedy trial, stating that: “All
persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-
judicial, or administrative bodies.” As a result of our district’s growing population and the
increasing number of cases, our court dockets are clogged, resulting to delays in the
resolution of cases, and the frustration of said rights.

Surely, the State must enact measures to ensure that rights do not get frustrated
as a result of systemic backlogs. When courts are made visible, and assume more
responsive roles in dispensing justice, citizens would naturally feel that the government
is serious about upholding their rights. Aggrieved individuals are more likely to trust a
system that is present, effective, and not distant and overloaded. Additional courts
must necessarily be established to improve the disposition of justice and ensure the
right of every Filipino to fair and speedy trial, as well as other rights being sought by
igants to be protected.

In view of the foregoing premises, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2362

House Bill No.

Introduced by
Honorable Nelson S. Legacion
Representative, 3rd District, Camarines Sur

AN ACT CREATING ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT AND THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES IN THE 5TH JUDICIAL
REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF CALABANGA,
PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, AND THE CITY OF NAGA, FURTHER
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 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. There are hereby created two (2) additional Regional Trial Court
(RTC) branches in the Fifth Judicial Region, with one (1) to be stationed at the
Municipality of Calabanga, Camarines Sur; and another one (1) to be stationed at the
City of Naga, Camarines Sur.

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


SECTION 2. There is hereby created one (1) additional Municipal Trial Court in
Cities (MTCC) branch in the Fifth Judicial Region, to be stationed at the City of Naga,
Camarines Sur.

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

SECTION 3. 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 branches of the RTC in the
Municipality of Calabanga, and the City of Naga, and the additional branch of MTCC
the in the Third Congressional District, Province of Camarines Sur. The Supreme Court
shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 4. Section 14(f) and Section 30 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise
known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended, and all other laws,

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

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,