Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila © pate 07 AUG 2025

Ko Time 3: 33)
TWENTIETH CONGRESS %, oN a
Ww.

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 3122

Introduced by Representative JB BERNOS

AN ACT
(CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE FIRST JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF LA PAZ, PROVINCE OF ABRA, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14(A) OF
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the Bill of Rights, every individual has a right to an efficient
and expeditious handling of their cases. Section 16, Article III of the Constitution
provides: “All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases
before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.” However, this
constitutional right has become illusory to many Filipinos due to the ceaseless

congestion of the dockets in the country.

In the Lone District of Abra, only three (3) Regional Trial Court branches
along with one (1) unorganized branch manage the cases of twenty-seven (27)
municipalities. Two (2) of these branches are found in the Municipality of
Bangued while one stands (1) in the Municipality of Bucay.

As the highest trial court in the country, Regional Trial Courts exercise
appellate jurisdiction over cases decided by the lower courts. In order to execute
a quick and organized manner to provide fair and impartial delivery of justice to

the people, the court staff and the presiding judge should only be handling a
1


manageable number of cases. With the insufficient number of Regional Trial
Courts in the Province, the court employees and the presiding judges are
burdened with an insufferable number of cases resulting in clogged dockets.
Furthermore, the geographical characteristic of the Province of Abra requires the
people to travel long distances to reach the available courthouses. These factors
contribute to the delay in the administration of justice to the Abrefios.

‘Therefore, this Bill seeks to create one (1) additional branch of the Regional
Trial Court in the Province of Abra, to be located in the Municipality of La Paz.
The creation of an additional branch will provide a closer option for the Abrefios
to process their legal needs and lessen the workload on the already existing

branches.

In the light of the foregoing and the immediate delivery of justice to the
people of Abra, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.



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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _3122_

Introduced by Representative JB BERNOS

AN ACT
CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE FIRST JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF LA PAZ, PROVINCE OF ABRA, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14(A) OF
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED

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

SECTION 1. One (1) additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the
First Judicial Region is hereby created and stationed in the Municipality of La
Paz, Province of Abra.

‘The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the newly created
branch of the Regional Trial Court.

Sec. 2. 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 branch of the Regional Trial
Court in the Municipality of La Paz, Province of Abra. The funds necessary for
the operation of the court herein created shall be appropriated and released only

upon the actual organization of the court and the appointment of its personnel.


Sec. 3. Section 14 (a) 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.

Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,