Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
17% CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7004

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The speedy, effective, and efficient disposition of cases in the courts is
crucial in encouraging confidence and faith in our judicial system. This is
important for it is this faith in the judiciary which prevents our citizens in taking
justice into their own hands as well as creating a certain level of deterrence for
those who would attempt to break the law. It is for this reason that this current
measure is proposed to increase the number of Metropolitan Trial Courts
(MeTC) by adding five (5) additional branches in Valenzuela City to improve its
current level of branch to population ratio.

At present there are only five (5) MeTC branches in Valenzuela City. For
the year 2016-2017 alone, these branches received more than three thousand
(3000) new cases in addition to those cases already pending. The sheer amount
and volume of cases inevitably leads to the clogging of the dockets of the courts
despite the most diligent efforts of our honorable judges. Looking at the court to
population ratio, what is revealed is that Valenzuela City has one of the lowest in
the NCR at 0.85 per 100, 000 population, as compared with other cities like Pasig
(2.25), Makati (2.23), Mandaluyong (3.37), Manila (1.69), and Quezon City (1.19).

fresentative
1 District, ValenzuelA City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
17% CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7004

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian

AN ACT CREATING
‘TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT
‘TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF VALENZUELA, METRO MANILA.,
AND AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE SECTION 27 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 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. Five (5) additional Metropolitan Trial Court branches are hereby created in the
National Capital Judicial Region with seats at the City of Valenzuela, Metro Manila

‘The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly-created branches of the
Metropolitan Trial Court in the National Capital Judicial Region,

Section 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 five (5) additional branches of the Metropolitan Trial Court to be
stationed at the City of Valenzuela, Metro Manila, the funding of which shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the Court(s)
herein created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the
Court(s) and the appointment of its personnel.

Section 3. Section 27 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.

Section 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,