Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. pose

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create an additional branch of the Regional Trial
Court in the First Judicial Region to be stationed in the Municipality of
Asingan, Province of Pangasinan.

Section 16, Article III of the 1987 Constitution provides, “(a)ll
persons shall have the right to speedy disposition of their cases before all
judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.” A Filipino’s right to
trial does not only secure equal protection of the laws but also mandates
a speedy public trial. As exhorted by a famous jurist, “the number one
problem of the judiciary is clocked dockets, arising from delays in trial,
and delays in deciding cases. Clogged dockets impair social justice,
hinder economic development and erode public confidence in the justice
system and ultimately in the entire government.”

The 6 District of Pangasinan is composed of ten municipalities,
namely, Asingan, San Manuel, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Balungao, Umingan,
San Quintin, Natividad, San Nicolas, and Tayug. Except for Asingan and
San Manuel, the rest of the remaining municipalities are catered by
Regional Trial Courts stationed at Tayug and Rosales. The Municipalities
of Asingan and San Manuel are catered by Regional Trial Courts
stationed at the City of Urdaneta. Currently, the Regional Trial Courts of
Urdaneta are also experiencing case load problems arising from clogged
dockets and trial delays. While understandably, the solution to clogged
dockets is a combination of different measures, it is proposed that a
separate Regional Trial Courtbe created in the Municipality of Asingan
which shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the Municipalities of Asingan


od

and San Manuel so as to unbind the Regional Trial Courts of Urdaneta
from caseloads coming from Asingan and San Manuel.

Since public office is public trust, it is the responsibility of the
State to prevent delays in the disposition of cases.

Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

INE D AGABAS


10

Ste

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. CURL)

AN ACT

CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE FIRST JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN
THE MUNICIPALITY OF ASINGAN, PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN,
FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,
PARAGRAPH (A) 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 of the Philippines and the House of
Representatives in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created an additional branch of
the Regional Trial Court in the First Judicial Region to be
stationed in the Municipality of Asingan, Province of

Pangasinan.

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

SEC. 2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in
coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice,
shall immediate include in the Court’s program the
operationalization of the Regional Trial Court branch to be

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stationed in the Municipality of Asingan, Province of
Pangasinan, the funding of which shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 3. Section 14(a) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 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.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2)

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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