Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1619

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2004, by virtue of Republic Act No. 9247, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in
Catanauan, Quezon Province was created. Since its operation, cases filed in the said Court
have been handled by its sole Judge. In 2017, there were 312 cases, or an average of 26 cases
per month, filed in the Catanauan Judicial District. Meanwhile, almost the same number of
cases was handled by the Judicial District of Gumaca, Quezon which has four (4) RTC
branches. Given the high volume of cases assigned, the RTC Catanauan is likely to suffer
from clogged dockets. It is feared that delay in the administration of justice is possible and
inevitable with this congestion

In accordance with the constitutional mandate of ensuring the right to speedy
disposition of cases, this bill therefore seeks the creation of three (3) additional Regional
Trial Court branches to be stationed in the Municipality of Catanauan, Province of Quezon.
With the passage of this bill, it is hoped that the creation of the additional RTC branches will
help relieve the Court of case congestion.

This bill is re-filed from the 17' Congress.

In view of the foregoing and in the interest of expeditious and competent delivery

of justice, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ETA C,BUAREZ
Represenfative
3rd District, Quezon Province

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1619

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
BRANCHES IN THE FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE
MUNICIPALITY OF CATANAUAN, PROVINCE OF QUEZON, FURTHER AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 (E) OF THE 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 in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Three (3) additional Regional Trial Court branches are hereby created
in the Fourth Judjcial Region to be stationed at the Municipality of Catanauan, Quezon
province

‘The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly-created branch of
the Regional Trial Court in the Fourth Judicial Region,

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 three (3) additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the
Municipality of Catanauan, Province of Quezon. The funding of which shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the
Court herein created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization
of the Court and the appointment of its personnel.

SEC. 3. Section 14 (e) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known as "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

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SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the

Philippines, whichever comes earlier.

Approved.

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