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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

nouse Bi Noe?
Tniroduced by REP. FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution guarantees that the right of all persons to speedy disposition of cases
before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies. (Sec. 16, Art. III)

However, the congestion of court dockets hampers the delivery of justice, contributing to the
tragedy best expressed in the maxim, “Justice delayed is justice denied”.

As of September 2019, the combined caseload of Branches 40 and 69 of the Regional Trial
Court (RTC) stationed in Silay City is 2,159 or an average caseload of 1,080. This exceeds the
manageable caseload per second level court which, according to the Office of the Court
Administrator of the Supreme Court, is 300 cases.

‘A new RTC branch in Silay City will bring the court closer to the people. It will declog the
existing courts, improve the administration of justice in the Third District of Negros Occidental
and strengthen the faith of our people in our justice system.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Z2—
REP. CISCO

BENITEZ, Ph.D.

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092



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _6518
Introduced by REP. FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D.

AN ACT
CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
IN THE SIXTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN SILAY CITY,
PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS AMENDED, 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. One (1) additional Regional Trial Court branch is hereby created in the
Sixth Judicial Region with a seat in Silay City, Province of Negros Occidental.

SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly created branch
of the Regional Trial Court in the Sixth Judicial Region.

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
implementation of this Act. The Supreme Court, in coordination with the Department of
Budget and Management, shall ensure the creation of adequate and appropriate staffing pattern
of the Court no later than one (1) year since the passage of this Act. The funding therefor shall
likewise 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 Court and the appointment of its personnel.

SEC. 4. Section 14 (g) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as "The Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, and all other laws, rules and regulations that may
be 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 two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,