PRESEN

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

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS \
First Regular Session

6485
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by Representative ANTONIO ‘TONYPET’ T. ALBANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court
in the Municipality of Cabagan, Province of Isabela. For this purpose, it seeks to further
amend Batas Pambansa Big. 129 otherwise known as “The Judiciary Reorganization
Act of 1980”.

At present, Regional Trial Court Branch 22, Cabagan, Isabela (RTC Br.
22) is a single sala court with three (3) Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTC’s) and six
(6) municipalities under its jurisdiction. In addition to its being a general court, it is
also the designated Family Court, Drug Court, Election Court, and Special Green Court
tasked to adjudicate environmental cases.

As of February 28, 2020, a total of five hundred forty one (541) cases
are pending before the court. Notwithstanding the effort of the courts to hear and
decide the cases expeditiously and efficiently, our courts are flooded with new cases.
An average of four hundred fifty (450) to five hundred (500) new cases are filed before
the court every year. In drug cases alone, our courts have difficulty coping with the
heavy caseload despite the efforts of the court to resort to methods intended towards
speedy and timely disposition of cases. With the limited number of court employees
and salas we have, the RTC in Cabagan is overburdened with cases thereby affecting
its overall efficiency.

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

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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6485
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative ANTONIO ‘TONYPET’ T. ALBANO

AN ACT
CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
SECOND JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE PROVINCE OF
ISABELA, MUNICIPALITY OF CABAGAN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 14(3) AND 29 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 is hereby
created in the Second Judicial Region, to be stationed in the Municipality of Cabagan,
Province of Isabela.

The Supreme Court shall assign the respective 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 one (1) additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the
Province of Isabela. 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. Sections 14(j) and 29 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. 4, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,