Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3318

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Dahlia A. Loyola

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create an additional Regional Trial Court branch to take
cognizance of cases emanating from the Municipality of Silang (“Silang’) in the
Province of Cavite to be stationed in Silang, Cavite

Sections 11 and 16, Article Il of the 1987 Constitution provide that, “free
access to the courts and quasi-judicial bodies and adequate legal assistance
shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty” and “all persons shall
have the right to speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial
or administrative bodies’.

However, the above provisions are often times rendered nugatory. At
present, the Regional Trial Court Branch 18 of Tagaytay City (“RTC-Tagaytay")
has jurisdiction over cases emanating from Silang. But, most of the litigants and
residents of the said municipality do not bother to seek justice from the court due
to their lack of finances, as well as, the necessity to travel to Tagaytay City to
gain access to our courts of law. In effect, they are denied access to the courts
by reason of their poverty.

In addition, due to the increase of population in the Province of Cavite,
coupled with the drastic increase in the volume of cases filed in RTC Tagaytay,
a lone sala, the present court dockets have been clogged and this has resulted

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in the arbitrary and unreasonable delay in the resolution of the cases to the
prejudice of the litigants. This defeats the constitutional rights of the poor litigants
of Silang, Cavite to speedy disposition of their cases.

Hence, there is a need to create an additional Regional Trial Court branch
to take cognizance of cases originating from the Municipality of Silang, Province
of Cavite to be stationed in Silang, Cavite in order to have an efficient and
effective administration of justice for the poor constituents thereof.

It is for this purpose and the advancement of the common good that early
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Fifth District of Cavite


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3318
House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Dahlia A. Loyola

AN ACT
CREATING AN ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
BRANCH IN THE PROVINCE OF CAVITE TO BE STATIONED
AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF SILANG, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (E) OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “THE
JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980” AS AMENDED,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created an additional Regional Trial Court
branch in the Fourth Judicial Region to be stationed at the Municipality of Silang,
Province of Cavite.

The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly-created
Regional Trial Court branch in the Fourth Judicial Region

SEC. 2. The jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Regional Trial Court
under existing law, emanating from the municipality of Silang in the Province of
Cavite, shall be lodged in the Regional Trial Court branch created under 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 an additional Regional Trial Court branch to be


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stationed at the Municipality of Silang, Province of Cavite, the funding of which
shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. The Supreme Court shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act and, if warranted, the
realignment of seats of existing branches and their territorial jurisdiction

SEC. 5. Section 14(e) of Batas Pambansa Big. 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.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,