Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 966 
Introduced by Honorable Oscar G. Malapitan 
Explanatory Note 
This bill seeks to establish eight (8) additional branches of the Regional 
Trial Court (RTC) in the National Capital Judicial Region, to be stationed 
in the City of Caloocan. 
This legislative proposal was first introduced in the 15th Congress and 
subsequently refiled in the 17th, 18th, and 19th Congresses. On each 
occasion, it was approved by the House of Representatives on third and 
final reading, reflecting consistent support for its enactment. 
The primary objective of the measure is to expedite the hearing and 
resolution of cases pending before the existing RTC branches in Caloocan 
City. This is in line with Section 16, Article III of the 1987 Philippine 
Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to a speedy 
disposition of their cases. 
Currently, Caloocan City is served by thirteen (13) RTC branches and one 
(1) Family Court. However, these courts face a severe backlog in case
resolution. According to a report from the Office of the Court
Administrator (OCA), the total caseload of these branches stands at 6,845
cases, or an average of 489 cases per branch. Given that the manageable
caseload for a second-level court is only 300 cases, the creation of eight
(8) additional RTC branches would significantly reduce the burden on
existing 
courts, 
lowering 
the 
average 
caseload 
per 
branch 
to
approximately 311 cases.
Caloocan City is a first-class, highly urbanized city with a population of 
1,661,584 as per the 2020 census conducted by the Philippine Statistics 
Authority. It ranks as the fourth most populous city in the Philippines 
and the third in Metro Manila, following Quezon City and Manila. As a 
major urban center and a thriving business district in the northern part 
of Metro Manila, the city continues to experience rapid growth in both 
population and economic activity. 
In light of the overwhelming caseload of its RTC branches, the city’s 
expanding population, and its dynamic economy, the immediate passage 
of this bill is strongly recommended. 
HON. OSCAR G. MALAPITAN 
July 1, 2025
5:02 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 966 
Introduced by Honorable Oscar G. Malapitan 
AN ACT 
CREATING EIGHT (8) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL 
TRIAL COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION 
TO 
BE STATIONED 
IN 
THE 
CITY OF 
CALOOCAN, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,   AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION 14 (D) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 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. Eight (8) additional branches of the Regional Trial 
Court in the National Capital Judicial Region are hereby created and 
stationed in the City of  Caloocan, with four (4) branches in North 
Caloocan and four (4) branches in South Caloocan. 
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  additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the City of 
Caloocan.  
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 the 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 (d) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise 
known as the “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 any newspaper of general 
circulation. 
 
Approved,