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Republic of the Philippines [s RECETy;
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES — f™ py, 20 it
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,__ 3396

Introduced yi Rees JOSE CHRISTOPHER ¥. BELMONTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On 16 April 2013, Republic Act 10480 was signed into law, effectively
creating twenty-two (22) additional Metropolitan Trial Courts in Quezon City
to reinforce the existing twelve (12) courts.

Unfortunately, the number of Regional Trial Courts in Quezon City
remain at forty-five (45). The Executive Judges of the MeTC and the RTC in
QC, a representative from the Supreme Court, as well as lawyers’ groups such
as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Quezon City Chapter, the Quezon
City Trial Lawyers’ League, the Women Trial Lawyers’ League, and the
Women Lawyers’ Circle have expressed concerns that creating additional
MeTC branches without adding more RTC branches will not solve the
problem of de-clogging the courts or ensure the speedy administration of
justice. The RTC serves both as a first level court, as well as an appellate court
and more MeTCs shall mean more appellate cases, clogging the RTC dockets.

Hence, there is clearly a need to pass this bill seeking to create
additional regional trial courts in Quezon City to ensure the speedy
administration of justice in this jurisdiction. Immediate approval of this bill is
hereby urged.

Sf bovvk

JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y. BELMONTE


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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3396

Introduced by Representative JOSE CHRISTOPHER Y. BELMONTE

AN ACT CREATING NINETEEN (19) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION TO BE
STATIONED IN QUEZON CITY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING.
FUNDS THEREFORE

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

SECTION 1, Nineteen (19) additional Regional Trial Court branches for
Quezon City, with seats thereat, are hereby created in the National Capital Judicial
Region to be stationed in Quezon City, Metro Manila.

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

SEC. 3. 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 nineteen (19) additional branches of the Regional
Trial Court, funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the Courts herein
created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the
Courts and the appointment of its personnel.

SEC, 4. Section 27 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,” as amended, as well as other provisions that
may be inconsistent herewith, are hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further
amended, accordingly.

SEC. 5, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion

of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

‘Approved,