Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

a4?
HOUSE BILLNO, _334~

Introduced by HON. SIGFRIDO R. TINGA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The structure of every government makes the presence of a mechanism to
settle disputes a must. Thus, Section 1, Article VII of the Constitution provides
that “the judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower
courts as may be established by law.” Then and now, our judicial system remains

the core of every existing community.

Since the enactment of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 in 1980, the City of Taguig
had only one (1) Metropolitan Trial Court to serve the judicial needs of its
constituency. Moreover, it is already more than 25 years since the enactment of
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 when the city was then just a small municipality in
Metro Manila. Now, the small municipality has become a city known as the
gateway of the south, fully developed and highly urbanized. The development
however has caused an increase in the number of disputes to be resolved,

including criminal and civil cases. Meanwhile, other legal matters awaiting judicial


determination have been pending and continue to rise, bringing about problems

in matters of litigation.

Currently, the sole Metropolitan Trial Court in the City of Taguig handles
approximately 1,200 cases. This number itself overwhelms one judge who
reviews the cases and decides on them promptly and judiciously as mandated by
the Constitution. However, the delay in dispensing justice is understandable

given this situation.

The delay in the administration of justice consequently denies an accused
the constitutional right to a speedy trial. To address these concerns, this bill
creates four (4) Metropolitan Trial Courts for the City of Taguig to effectively and
swiftly serve the needs of litigants whose lives halt to due to the attention needed

in the trial of their cases.

Thus, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

SIGFRI
Repres|
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _3342

Introduced by HON. SIGFRIDO R. TINGA

AN ACT
CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL
COURT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT TAGUIG
CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 27, CHAPTER III OF 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. Section 27 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as
the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, as amended is hereby further amended

to read as follows:

“SEC.27. Metropolitan Trial Courts of the National Capital Region. —
There shall be a Metropolitan Trial Court in the National Capital Region, to be
known as the Metropolitan Trial Court of Metro Manila, which shall be composed

of [ninety-seven (97)] ONE HUNDRED ONE (101) branches. There shall be:


[One branch (Branch LXXIV)] FOUR BRANCHES for Taguig City with seats

thereat;

SECTION 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 operation of three (3) additional branches of the
Metropolitan Trial Court of Metro Manila to be stationed at Taguig City, the

funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,