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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL'No.__ 159

Introduced by Hon. LEOPOLDO N. BATAOIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Fair and speedy justice is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution
and one principal concern brought to fore by the bench and the bar in Pangasinan is the
voluminous number of cases being handled by the courts in said province.

The province of Pangasinan has 27 Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC),
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTC), and Municipal Trial Courts (MTC) and 24
Regional Trial Courts (RTC) covering the cities of Alaminos, Dagupan, San Carlos and
Urdaneta and the towns of Anda, Bani, Bayambang, Binmaley, Bolinao, Calasiao,
Lingayen, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara, Sta.
Maria and Umingan, Aguilar-Bugallon, Balungao, Burgos-Mabini-Dasol, Labrador-Sual,
San Fabian-San Jacinto, Urbiztondo-Basista, Pozorrubio-Sison, Asingan-San Manuel,
Alcala-Bautista, ‘Tayug-San Nicolas, Natividad-San Quintin, Villasis-Sto. Tomas,
Binalonan- Laoae, each with a docket of one thousand cases more or less.

The area over which these courts in Pangasinan exercise jurisdiction is not only
extensive but is also considered as one of the fastest developing hubs in the Province of
Pangasinan. Even as the courts in the province have assiduously and competently
discharged their functions and duties, they simply cannot cope with and dispose of cases
faster than the sheer number of cases being filed in their respective salas.

The people of Pangasinan deserve an improved quality of life through fast and
efficient administration of justice. Moreover, there is a clamor from the judges in the
Province of Pangasinan to increase the courts in the province to address the growing
number of population and the increasing complexities of life brought about by an
increase in commercial transactions, among others. Therefore, to prevent the situation
where the quality of justice being served is sacrificed for the sake of expediency and to
avoid the deterioration of the situation into a classic example of the often quoted adage
that “Justice delayed is justice denied,” it is but imperative that five (4) additional
Regional Trial Courts be created to be spread out in the key areas of the province,
namely: Alaminos City, Dagupan City, San Carlos City and Lingayen.

Hence, approval of this bill is highly recommended.



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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

aay
ve
HOUSE BILL NO. _ .

~ Introduced by Hon, LEOPOLDO N. BATAOIL

AN ACT
CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE CITIES OF ALAMINOS, DAGUPAN AND SAN CARLOS AND
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LINGAYEN, ALL SITUATED IN THE PROVINCE
OF PANGASINAN, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 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. Four (4) additional branches of the Regional Trial Court for the
Cities of Alaminos, Dagupan and San Carlos. and in the Municipality of Lingayen. with
seats thereat, are hereby created in the First Judicial Region.

SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers of
the newly-created court branches in the First Judicial Region.

SECTION 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 implementation of this Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

TION 4. Section 14 (a) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known as
"The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980" as amended. as well as other provisions that
may be inconsistent herewith, is hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further
amended.

SECTION 5. 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.