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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Bill No. 5247

INTRODUCED BY Rep. GREG G. GASATAYA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This is a refile of a Bill of the same nature and intent by Lone District of Bacolod Representative
Evelio R. Leonardia of the 16" Congress.

Despite the debatable affluence of the Phili
investments, a Filipino citizen can be proud of the fact that our nation’s legislative body is greatly prolific
in submitting bills and approving laws for the greater welfare of the masses. However, such laws can only
be so good to be applied and scrutinized if the judiciary is capable and efficient enough to fulfill its
mandate especially in situations where the law is cited for its proceedings. Consequently, once cases are
filed where the laws are to be essentially referenced; it is quite a disservice to the Filipino people when
real-time impact upon the passing of judgment is delayed because of logistical judiciary inadequacies.
Hence, the efficiency of judicial proceedings should be reevaluated with special consideration to the
number of cases submitted and the number of Municipal Trial Courts in Cities.

Just between June and August in the year 2013, there were a total of 4,563 pending cases in all 7
Municipal Trial Courts in Cities branches in Bacolod City. At the beginning of 2013, there were a total of
4,674 pending cases. In a mere span of 6 months, 578 cases were disposed. Conversely, 467 cases were
also added within the same duration. The completion rate in case handling was roughly less than 3%, not,
to mention the additional cases filed on a day-to-day basis. Such conditions remain and the cases stocked
in file are to exceed the cases dismissed. Thus, the current position of the Municipal Trial Courts in
Bacolod City highly demands an increase in the number of court branches that would aid in the speedy
dispensation of justice.

As such, the approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

REP. GREG G. GASATAYA.
Lone District of Bacolod City


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Bill No. 5247

INTRODUCED BY Rep. GREG G. GASATAYA

AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL
COURT IN CITIES IN THE CITY OF BACOLOD, THEREBY AMENDING SECTION 29 OF
BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 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 29 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980, as amended is hereby further amended to read as follows:

“Section 29.Municipal Trial Courts in Cities. — In every city which does not form part of a

metropolitan area, there shall be a Municipal Trial Court with one branch, except as hereunder provided:

Two branches for Laoag City;

Four branches for Baguio City;

Three branches for Dagupan City;

Five branches for Olongapo City;

Three branches for Cabanatuan City;

‘Two branches for San Jose City;

‘Three branches for Angeles City;

‘Two branches for Cavite City;

‘Two branches for Batangas City;

Two branches for Lucena City;


Three branches for Naga City;

Two branches for Iriga City;

Three branches for Legaspi City;
‘Two branches for Roxas City;

Four branches for lloilo City;

‘Nine branches for Bacolod City:
Two branches for Dumaguete City;
Two branches for Tacloban City;
Eight branches for Cebu City;

‘Three branches for Mandaue City;
‘Two branches for Tagbilaran City;
‘Two branches for Surigao City;

‘Two branches for Butuan City;

Five branches for Cagayan de Oro City;
Seven branches for Davao City;
Three branches for General Santos City;
‘Two branches for Oroquieta City;
Three branches for Ozamis City;
‘Two branches for Dipolog City;
Four branches for Zamboanga City;
Two branches for Pagadian City; and
‘Two branches for lligan City.”

The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly-created branches of the
Municipal Trial Court in Cities in the Sixth Judicial Region.


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 operationalization of two (2)
additional branches of Municipal Trial Court in Cities to be stationed at the City of Bacolod, the funding
‘of which shall 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 Courts and the appointment of its personnel.

SECTION 3.Repealing Clause — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter
of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 5.£ffectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED,

REP. GREG G. GASATAYA.
Lone District of Bacolod City