Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, or the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, was enacted to 
promote the swift and efficient administration of justice. However, there are cities and provinces 
in the country that are far from the location of the existing Courts of Appeals, which causes 
delays and inconvenience to the litigants and lawyers. 
This bill proposes the creation of a Court of Appeals in the City of Baguio to address this 
concern. This division of the Court of Appeals will have jurisdiction over cases originating from 
the First (1st) and Second (2nd) Judicial Regions.  
The establishment of a Court of Appeals in the City of Baguio will provide greater access 
to justice. It will also help ease the caseload of the existing Courts of Appeals and promote the 
speedy resolution of cases.  
In light of the foregoing, approval of this proposed measure is earnestly sought. 
MARK O. GO 
March 8, 2023
9:40 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go 
AN ACT 
CREATING AN ADDITIONAL DIVISION IN THE COURT OF APPEALS TO BE 
STATIONED IN THE CITY OF BAGUIO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS 
PAMBANSA BILANG 129, AS AMENDED OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Creation of a Court of Appeals in the City of Baguio. – A division of 
Court of Appeals is hereby created in the City of Baguio, to be known as the Court of Appeals in 
Baguio, with jurisdiction over cases originating from the First (1st) and Second (2nd) Judicial 
Regions. 
SEC. 2.  Composition. – The Court of Appeals in Baguio shall be composed of three (3) 
members, who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation 
of the Judicial and Bar Council. 
SEC. 3.  Qualifications. – The Justices of the Court of Appeals in Baguio shall be 
natural-born citizens of the Philippines and shall possess the same qualifications as those 
required of the Justices of the Court of Appeals under existing laws. 
SEC. 4.  Salaries and Allowances. – The Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the 
Court of Appeals in Baguio shall receive the same salaries, allowances, and other emoluments as 
those of the Justices of the Court of Appeals. 
SEC. 5.  Jurisdiction. – The Baguio Court of Appeals shall have appellate jurisdiction 
over all cases and appeals from the First (1st) and Second (2nd) Judicial Regions. 
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SEC. 6.  Venue of Sessions. – The Court of Appeals in Baguio shall hold its sessions in 
the City of Baguio, except in cases of force majeure or other emergency situations, where it may 
hold sessions in any other place within its jurisdiction. 
 
 
SEC. 7.   Appropriations. -- The funds necessary for the operation of the Baguio Court 
of Appeals shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the year following the 
approval of this Act.   
 
SEC. 8.  Transitory Provision. – The Justices of the Court of Appeals in Baguio shall be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines within ninety (90) days from the approval of this 
Act.  All pending cases on appeal originating from the 1st or 2nd Judicial Regions , except those 
which have been submitted for resolution, shall be referred to the Court of Appeals in Baguio. 
 
SEC. 9.  Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations, 
or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 10.  Effectivity. –This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
 
Approved,