HUUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES parte; 02 AUG 2016
Quezon City 7
Tne:
BY:
Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session eres ~ ON UT

Rs «EX SERVICE

HOUSE BILL NO. 2299

Introduced by HONORABLE MELECIO J. YAP, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

This bill seeks to create one (1) additional branch of the Regional Trial
Court to be stationed in the City of Escalante, Province of Negros Occidental
in the Sixth Judicial Region.

It must be noted that by geographical location, the First District of
Negros Occidental comprised of 2 cities, namely, Escalante and San Carlos
and 3 other municipalities, namely, Toboso, Calatrava and Salvador
Benedicto, is more or less 146 kilo meters away from the metro Bacolod, the
center of the province. The 2 aforementioned cities serve as the island
gateways to other islands and provinces making it susceptible to inland
migration.

Though there is an existing Regional Trial Court in San Carlos City, it
cannot cope with the increasing number of cases that need preferential
attention and speedy action relative to the ever increasing population in the
First District of the Negros Occidental.

The delay in the dispensation of justice due to lack of salas especially
at the level of the Regional Trial Court is tantamount to denying our
constituents with justice that they rightfully deserve. As mandated by the
constitution, social justice is not a privilege but rather, a right that everyone
must be assured with.

Henceforth, it is imperative to create one (1) additional branch of the
Regional Trial Court to be stationed in the City of Escalante, Province of
Negros Occidental in the Sixth Judicial Region to empower the community


with speedy resolution to disputes thereby making this branch in our
government closer to the people providing better services threat.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is fervently
prayed for.

ELEGIO J. YAP, JR.
Repretentative
+ of Negros Occidental



SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE BILL NO. 2299

Introduced by HONORABLE MELECIO J. YAP, JR.

AN ACT CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL
TRIAL COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL TO BE
STATIONED IN THE CITY OF ESCALANTE, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (G) 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. One (1) additional branch of the Regional Trial Court
to be stationed in the City of Escalante, Province of Negros Occidental
is hereby created in the Sixth Judicial Region.

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

SECTION 2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in
coordination with Secretary of the Department of Justice
shall include in the Court's program the operationalization of one
additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the Province of Negros
Occidental to be stationed in Escalante City, the funding of which shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. Separability Clause. Should there be any section of
this Act that is deemed unconstitutional or in contrast with any existing
laws and regulations, the other sections or provisions thereof shall not
be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 4. Section 14 (g) of Batas Pambansa Big. 129, otherwise
known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, and
all other laws, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with any
provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.


SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in at least two (2) national newspapers in
general circulations.

Approved.