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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC G. YAP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Judiciary serves as the pillar of justice in society, ensuring that the rights 
of every citizen are protected and that disputes are resolved fairly and efficiently. 
However, access to justice remains a challenge in areas where courts are 
overburdened with caseloads, resulting in delays in the resolution of cases. This 
proposed measure seeks to address this concern by creating one (1) additional branch 
of the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) in the Municipality of La Trinidad, Province of 
Benguet, under the First Judicial Region. By doing so, this measure aims to strengthen 
the capacity of the justice system and make the delivery of justice faster and more 
accessible to the people. 
The filing of this bill is anchored on the growing demand for a more efficient 
and responsive delivery of justice in La Trinidad and its neighboring municipalities. 
Benguet’s capital town continues to experience rapid population growth, 
urbanization, and increased economic activity, resulting in mounting pressure on its 
existing trial courts. Court dockets in La Trinidad have become increasingly 
congested, leading to delays in the disposition of criminal, civil, and other cases under 
their jurisdiction. Through establishing an additional MTC branch, this bill seeks to 
decongest existing courts, expedite case resolution, and ensure more accessible 
judicial services, especially to residents who currently endure long waits and the 
burden of travel for legal proceedings. 
In fact, according to the Supreme Court’s Annual Report (2023), it shows that 
trial courts in Benguet, particularly in La Trinidad, have consistently been among the 
most heavily burdened in the First Judicial Region. Several Municipal Trial Court 
branches have reported case backlogs that exceed their adjudication capacities, 
especially for cases involving minor criminal offenses, civil claims, and violations of 
special laws. La Trinidad, as the administrative, commercial, and educational hub of 
Benguet, continues to attract new residents and businesses, further increasing the 
demand for judicial services. Given these realities, the creation of an additional court 
branch is both timely and necessary to uphold the people’s right to a fair and speedy 
trial. 
September 3, 2025
6:08 pm
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Once enacted, this bill will authorize the establishment of an additional MTC 
branch in La Trinidad, with its operational expenses—including salaries, benefits, and 
court facilities—to be funded through the annual General Appropriations Act. The 
Supreme Court, in coordination with the Department of Justice, will oversee the 
implementation and operationalization of this new court branch. It is expected to 
significantly reduce the case backlog, improve court efficiency, and enhance the 
accessibility of legal services for Benguet residents. 
It is also worth noting that this proposed measure was already approved by 
the House of Representatives during the 19th Congress and is currently pending 
deliberation in the Senate. This reflects the strong and continuing recognition of the 
need for immediate judicial reform to address the growing demands of La Trinidad 
and its surrounding communities. Moreover, this bill proposes to amend Section 30 
of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, also known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 
1980,” to create an additional Municipal Trial Court branch in La Trinidad, Benguet. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
HON. ERIC G. YAP


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative ERIC G. YAP 
AN ACT CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE MUNICIPAL 
TRIAL COURT IN THE FIRST JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF LA TRINIDAD, PROVINCE OF BENGUET, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
SECTION 30 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 'THE 
JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980', AS AMENDED 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. One (1) additional branch of the Municipal Trial Court in the First 
Judicial 2 Region is hereby created in the Municipality of La Trinidad, Province of 
Benguet. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the newly created 
branch of the Municipal Trial Court. 
SEC. 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 of the additional branch of the Municipal Trial Court 
in the Municipality of La Trinidad, Province of Benguet. 
SEC. 3. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act, including 
appropriations for personnel services such as salaries, benefits and emoluments for 
judges and court personnel, court operations under maintenance and other operating 
expenses (MOOE), and provisions for Halls of Justice or courtrooms to accommodate 
judges and court staff, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 4. Section 30 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. 
SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
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Approved,