Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS,
Second Regular Session

House BILLNo.__ 9619

Introduced by: REP. RACHEL MARGUERITE B. DEL MAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Twenty seven years have passed since the effectivity of BP 129 - the Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980 allotting the corresponding number of courts per judicial region
based on the exigencies existing at that time

Because of the increase in our population and the increase in the volume of cases
filed, our courts dockets have been clogged and this has resulted in the delay in the
resolution of cases.

Based from the data and recommendations of the Office of the Court Administrator,
there were 8,515 active cases filed before the eight (8) existing branches of the Municipal
Trial Court in Cities at Cebu City as of June 2011. The manageable caseload per MTCC
branch ranges from 500 — 600, thus, the need to create 6 additional branches.

In the case of the Regional Trial Court in the Seventh Judicial Region at the City of
Cebu, the combined caseload of its twenty-two (22) existing RTC branches is 10,399, with
an average caseload of 473 per branch. Taking into consideration the manageable
caseload of 300 — 400 per RTC branch, the ideal number of RTC branches for the said city
is 23. Hence, the need to create an additional branch.

Approval of this bill is earnestly requested pursuant to Section 16, Article III of our

Constitution which gives all persons the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before
all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.

RACHEL MASGUERNTE: B. DEL MAR



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 35.4 9

Introduced by: HON. RACHEL MARGUERITE B. DEL MAR

AN ACT

CREATING SIX ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN
CITIES AND AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN
THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF CEBU,
PROVINCE OF CEBU, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS
PAMBANSA BILANG 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. Six (6) additional Municipal Trial Court in C) branches and One (1)
additional Regional Trial Court branch for Cebu City, Cebu in the Seventh Judicial Region,
with seats thereat, are hereby created.

SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the
newly created branches.

SECTION 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the
Seotetary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court's program the
implementation of this Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual
General Appropriation Act.

SECTION 4. Section 14 (h) and 29 of Batas Pambasa Bilang 129, otherwise known as
“The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,” as amended, as well as other provisions that may
be inconsistent herewith, is hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further amended.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of
its publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.