Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatines
Quezon City, Meteo Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

6894

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representatives Karlo Alexei B. Nograles and
Jericho Jonas B, Nograles

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution provides that all persons shall
have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-
judicial, or administrative bodies. Republic Act No. 8493, or the Speedy Trial
Act, was passed precisely to enforce this right, such right however, remains
illusory due to the perennial clogging of court dockets in the country. While the
Supreme Court has continuously adopted judicial reforms designed to facilitate
the case flow, much still has to be done.

The recent inventory of cases conducted in Davao City shows that the
combined case load for the existing fourteen (14) branches of the Regional Trial
Court has an average case load of 1,154 per branch. Such staggering number of
case dockets is way beyond the ideal ratio of 300-400 case load capacity for a
branch. The influx of cases can no longer be contained by the fourteen existing
RTC branches which are clearly overburdened.

Government must adopt measures to increase the number of courts in the
country to improve the administration of justice and its speedy dispensation.
This is in consonance with the constitutional provision which mandates that
Congress must give highest priority to the enactment of measures designed to
protect the different interests of the litigants, prevent oppressive pre-trial
incarcerations, minimize the anxiety and concern of the accused, and limit the
possibility that defense will be impaired.


While the City of Manila with a population of more than 1.7 million has
seventy-five (75) RTC branches and Makati City with a population of 582,626
has fifty (50) RTC branches, Davao City with a population of more than 1.6
million people has only fourteen (14) RTC branches. It is therefore an
immediate necessity to increase the number of RTC branches in Davao City in
order to effectively remove the clogging of court dockets in the city.

The creation of additional three (3) RTC branches in Davao City is
not only necessary by imperative.

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

KARLO/ALEXEI B. NOGRALES JERICH' S B. NOGRALES


Rune

10

Republic of the Philippines:
House of Representatives
Quexon Gity, Meteo Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

A
HOUSE BILL NO. 6894

Introduced by Representatives Karlo Alexei B. Nograles and
Jericho Jonas B, Nograles

AN ACT
CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
BRANCHES IN DAVAO CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 14 OF 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. Three (3) additional branches of the Regional Trial Court to
be stationed in Davao City are hereby created in the Eleventh Judicial Region.

SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers
for the newly created branches in the Eleventh Judicial Region.

SEC. 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the
Secretary of Justice, shall immediately include in the courts program the

operationalization of the three (3) additional branches of the Regional Trial


Court in Davao City, the funding of which shall 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.

SEC. 4. Section 14 (1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as
“The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980” as amended, as well as other
provisions that may be inconsistent herewith, is hereby repealed, modified, or
further amended.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,