Repubiic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
House Bill No._ 1039

Introduced by Representative Albert S. Garcia

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Province of Bataan is rapidly emerging as a major economic hub, driven by
large-scale infrastructure projects, the expansion of economic zones, and increased
migration. The construction of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) will
drastically change the province's landscape and will position Bataan as the next major
gateway. As a result, Bataan will see a surge in transient populations, workers,
businesses, and logistics operations which will increase the incidence of legal
disputes, criminal cases, and commercial litigations. The influx of transients and
economic activity will lead to new challenges in law enforcement and judicial
proceedings and will require an urgent expansion of judicial capacity within Bataan to
maintain law and order efficiently.

The expansion of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) and ecozones may also
contribute to increased commercial disputes and regulatory matters in Bataan. If the
Bills establishing the Metro Bataan Development Authority (MBDA) and the Special
Economic Development Zone Act (SPEDEZA) are signed into law, they will further
streamline governance and enforcement mechanisms, resulting to stricter
implementation of laws and regulations. With enhanced enforcement, there will likely
be an increase in legal cases related to civil, environment, business compliance, and
corporate disputes. Without additional courts, these cases will pile up and will result to
judicial backlogs and delay in the delivery of justice for both individuals and entities
alike.

Population growth, fueled by migration and employment opportunities are therefore
both an opportunity and a challenging factor. As Bataan transitions into a major
metropolitan area, the demand for judicial services should significantly increase in
proportion to its expanding population.

The Courts in Bataan are divided into three (3) territorial jurisdiction. The first territorial
jurisdiction covers the municipalities of Dinalupihan and Hermosa. The second territorial
jurisdiction covers Balanga City and the municipalities of Orani, Abucay, Samal, Orion,
Morong and Bagac. The third covers the municipalities of Mariveles and Limay.


These three territorial jurisdiction should have at least the same number of courts in
order to balance their services and so that there is no overwhelming that will ensue.

For instance, out of the three territorial jurisdictions, the first territorial jurisdiction is the
only one that has no Family Court, the other two having one each. The first territorial
jurisdiction, with a combined population of 195,652 currently has two (2) regular
Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) branches, forcing them to hear and try family-related
cases that should ideally be handled by a separately designated Family Court. in the
last ten years, 1,082 (22.6%) out of the 4,784 cases currently filed in this jurisdiction
involved famity-related matters.

Meanwhile, the second territorial jurisdiction has a combined population of 325,397, the
highest among the three territorial jurisdictions. It has five (5) RTC branches and one
(1) Family Court. In the last 10 years, there have been 12,617 cases filed in these
courts. The third territorial jurisdiction has 228,151 residents and is being served by just
three (3) RTC branches and one (1) Family Court. in the last 10 years, 6,838 cases
have been filed in these courts.

Presently, there is one (1) Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MTCC) in the first territorial
jurisdiction, five (5) Municipal Trial Courts in the second territorial jurisdiction and two
(2) Municipal Trial Courts (MTCs) in the third territorial jurisdiction.

With increased mobility as will be expected from the construction of the BCIB, among
other factors, comes the inevitable rise in traffic violations, smuggling, human trafficking,
drug-related offenses, and other transient-related crimes. The Bataan courts must be
prepared to handle these cases efficiently to maintain public order and security. Without
additional judicial resources, dockets will become clogged and will delay the
administration of justice and undermine confidence in the legal system. We must be
prepared this early. We must strengthen today, or risk being shackled by tomorrow's
regrets.

This Bill therefore seeks to address the foregoing judicial challenges by creating four
(4) additional RTC branches, which includes a Family Court, as well as creating one (1)
additional Municipal Trial Court (MTC) in Hermosa, one (1) additional Municipal Trial
Court (MTC) in Mariveles and one (1) additional Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC)
in Balanga City. These new courts will not only alleviate the current backlog but also
ensure that Bataan’s judicial system remains efficiently responsive to its fast-growing
economy and population. The immediate passage of this measure is strongly
recommended to safeguard judicial efficiency and support Bataan’s transformation into
a major economic and transit hub which will be vital to our country’s economic progress,
more so now that the province of Bataan and its component city and municipalities shall
comprise the Metro Bataan Development Authority (MBDA), should the Bill therefor be
approved by the President, and that the construction of the BCIB Project could start
soon this year.

=

. ALBERT S. GARCIA
Second District, Bataan


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No,_ 1039

Introduced by Representatives Albert S. Garcia

AN ACT

CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
(RTC), INCLUDING A FAMILY COURT, TWO (2) BRANCHES OF MUNICIPAL TRIAL
COURT(MTC), AND ONE (1) BRANCH OF MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES
(MTCC) IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE PROVINCE
OF BATAAN, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 14, 29 AND 30 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
ass z

‘SECTION 1. There shall be created four (4) additional branches of the Regional Trial
Court (RTC), one of which is a Family Court, two (2) branches of Municipal Trial Court
(MTC) and one (1) branch of Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in the Province of
Bataan, stationed as follows:

1) One (1) Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch in the Municipality of Dinalupihan
2) One (1) Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch in the City of Balanga

3) One (1) Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch in the Municipality of Mariveles

4) One (1) Regional Trial Court branch (Family Court) in the Municipality of Dinalupihan
5) One (1) Municipal Trial Court (MTC) branch in the Municipality of Hermosa

6) One (1) Municipal Trial Court (MTC) branch in the Municipality of Mariveles

7) One (1) Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) branch in the City of Balanga

The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch number for the newly-created
branches of the Regional Trial Court.

‘SECTION 2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary
of the Department of Justice, shall take the necessary steps to immediately
operationalize the newly-created RTC, MTCC and MTC branches, including the
appointment of the judges, clerks of court, and other personnel to be assigned therein.


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SECTION 3. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act, including salaries
and court operations under maintenance and other operating expense (MOOE), and
provisions for Halls of Justice or courtrooms to accommodate seven (7) judges and
respective court staff, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA)
and released upon the organization of such courts and appointment of personnel.

SECTION 4. Sections 14, 29, and 30 of Batas Pambansa Big. 129, as amended by RA
7691 and RA 11576, are hereby further amended to reflect the additional RTC, MTCC
and MTC branches created under this Act. All other laws, rules, and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.