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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1861.

Introduced by Honorable Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III

AN ACT
CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE SECOND JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF ROXAS, PROVINCE OF ISABELA, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 14(B) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 16 of Article III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution unequivocally
states that - "All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases
before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies". Despite such
constitutional protection, our nation's trial courts remain besieged by escalating
backlogs and chronic delays due to the constant influx of new cases. Coupled with
a steadily growing population, the judge-to-people ratio plummets, putting the
quality and efficiency of justice at risk.

The backlog issue is particularly noticeable in the Regional Trial Courts. The
Regional Trial Court (RTC), located in the Municipality of Roxas in the Province of
Isabela, serves six (6) municipalities, including Roxas, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, San
Manuel, and Aurora. These municipalities collectively have a population exceeding
three hundred thousand (300,000). Presently, the Regional Trial Court, Branch 23,
Roxas, Isabela is a single sala court with three (3) Municipal Circuit Trial Courts
(MCTC) and six (6) municipalities under its jurisdiction. In addition to being a
general court, it is also designated as a Family Court, Drugs Court, Election Court
and Green Court tasked to adjudicate environmental cases and is responsible for
handling eight hundred fifty (850) criminal and civil cases with just one judge and a
team of twelve (12) court employees. This situation clearly deviates from the ideal
ratio of less than three hundred (300) cases per branch.


Considering these circumstances, including the current case load and the
anticipated population growth, there is a pressing need to create two (2) additional
court branches in the Regional Trial Court of Roxas, Isabela for the efficient
dispensation of justice.

The establishment of two (2) additional court branches in the Regional Trial
Court of Roxas, Isabela, might not completely eradicate the issue of case delays.
However, this measure will certainly be a substantial stride towards alleviating case
backlog and expediting the resolution of cases.

In recognition of our duty to honor and uphold our citizens’ constitutional right
to speedy and just resolution of their cases, I seek the immediate approval of this
bill.

Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy HI
5" District, Isabela


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1861

Introduced by Honorable Faustino Michael Carlos T. Dy III

AN ACT
CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE SECOND JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF ROXAS, PROVINCE OF ISABELA, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 14(B) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED.

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

SECTION 1. Two (2) additional Regional Trial Court in the Second Judicial
Region are hereby created and stationed in the Municipality of Roxas, Province of
Isabela.

The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the newly
created branches of the Regional 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 two (2) additional branches of the Regional
Trial Court in the Municipality of Roxas, Province of Isabela.

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

Approved,