Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH Congress
1* Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2820

Introduced by Honorable JC Rahman A. Nava, MD

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Island of Guimaras was then part of the Province of Iloilo until it became
a province in 1992. When the island became a province, it has only three (3)
municipalities, namely: Jordan, Buenavista and Nueva Valencia. Exercising
jurisdiction over the three (3) municipalities was one (1) First Level Court - the 16”
Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Jordan, Buenavista and Nueva Valencia and with
second level court stationed in the City of Iloilo then. In 1995, the Municipalities of
Sibunag and San Lorenzo were created. With the creation of the two (2) additional
municipalities, the Circuit Trial Court continued to exercise jurisdiction over the five
(5) municipalities but was rebaptized as the First Municipal Circuit Trial Court of
Jordan-Buenavista-Nueva Valencia-Sibunag and San Lorenzo. On the other hand, a
Regional Trial Court branch was stationed at Jordan, Guimaras known as Branch 65.

From the time the Island of Guimaras became a province, improvements have
been introduced. Investors came in. Development was unprecedented. Coming with
the improvement and development are social and economic problems, problems of
the police, crimes, and others. Coming with investors, speculators and business are
land disputes, property problems and crimes.

With present set up, the lone Regional Trial Court in the Province is hearing
an average of twenty (20) cases daily to exclude a number of Family Courts cases.

With the increase in land disputes, property problems and crimes, that
undoubtedly result to the clogging of court dockets, the creation of additional

Regional Trial Court becomes imperative.

JC RAHMAN A. NAVA, MD


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH Congress
1* Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, __ 2820

Introduced by Honorable JC Rahman A. Nava, MD

AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH IN
THE PROVINCE OF GUIMARAS TO BE STATIONED IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF JORDAN, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (G)
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. Section 14, paragraph (g) of Batas Pambansa Big. 129, as
amended, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 is hereby
further amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 14. Regional Trial Courts —

“xxx

(g) SEVENTY (Sixty-nine) Regional Trial Courts shall be
commissioned for the Sixth Judicial Region. There shall be:

“Nine branches with seats thereat for the Province of
Aklan, with seats at Kalibo;

“Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of
Antique, with seats at San Jose, Culasi, and Bugasong;


“Eight branches with seats thereat for the Province of
Capiz and the City of Roxas, with seats at Roxas City and
Mambusao;

“TWO BRANCHES WITH SEATS THEREAT FOR THE
PROVINCE OF GUIMARAS, WITH SEATS AT JORDAN;

“TWENTY-ONE (Twenty-two) branches with seats
thereat for the Province of Iloilo, (the Sub-Province of
Guimaras,) and the City of Iloilo, with seats at Iloilo City,
Barotac Viejo, Guimbal and Dumangas;

“Xxx”

SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the additional branch of the
Regional Trial Court in the municipality of Jordan, Province of Guimaras in
accordance with this Act.

SEC. 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 regional trial court
branch in the Province of Guimaras, with station at the municipality of Jordan,
the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

Section 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,