Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5527

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill proposes the further amendment of Batas Pambansa (B.P.) Big. 129, as
amended, to increase the jurisdiction in civil cases of the first level courts nationwide,
ie. the Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTCs), the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities
(MTCCs), the Municipal Trial Courts (MTCs), and the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts
(MCTCs).

Section 5, R.A. 7691, automatically adjusted the jurisdictional amount under Sec. 33
(1) of BP'129 to Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00) after five (5) years
from its effectivity, or on 20 March 1999, and to Three Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P300,000.00) five (5) years thereafter, or on 22 February 2004. In the case of Metro
Manila, the jurisdictional amount was adjusted to Four Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P400,000.00) after five years from the effectivity of R.A. 7691, or on 20 March 1999.
Thereafter, no other amendments to the jurisdictional amounts of the first level
courts have been introduced despite inflation and the constant increase in real
property value.

In civil actions which involve title to, possession of, or any interest in real property,
the assessed value of the real property, which determines the jurisdiction of courts in
civil cases, is based on its fair market value multiplied by the assessment level fixed
by ordinances of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panglungsod, or
sangguniang bayan, as the case may be. The Local Government Code requires the
provincial, city or municipal assessor to undertake a general revision of property
assessments every three (3) years.

As a result of the fair market value of real property having risen considerably,
nearly all civil cases involving title to, possession of, or any interest in real
property are filed with the second level courts, or the Regional Trial Courts.

Based on statistical reports of the Court Management Office, Office of the Court
Administrator, 47,442 civil cases were filed with the first level courts in 2018, 14% of
which are covered by the Revised Rules on Summary Procedure, 66% are covered


by the Revised Rules on Small Claims Cases, while 20% are covered by the regular
rules. By year end, only 21,169 cases were left pending, with 15% covered by the
Revised Rules on Summary Procedure, 66% by the Revised Rules on Small Claims
Cases, and 19% by the regular rules

In comparison to the inflow of civil cases in the second level courts, there were
68,457 for 2018, with 108,484 cases left pending at the end of the year despite an
outflow of 65,363 cases.

It is respectfully proposed that the jurisdictional threshold of the first level courts
under Sec. 33 (1) and (3), B.P. 129, as amended by R.A. 7691, be increased to Two
Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00) for civil actions, probate proceedings (testate and

intestate), and admiralty and maritime actions, and Four Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P400,000.00) for civil actions which involve title to, or possession of, real property,

oF any interest therein, whether in or outside Metro Manila.

It is also recommended that an additional provision be included providing for the
regular increase of both these jurisdictional amounts every five (5) years by One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00), similar to Sec. 5, R.A. 7691.

Consequently, Sec. 19, B.P. 129, as amended, which provides for the jurisdiction of
Regional Trial Courts in civil cases, particularly paragraphs 2, 3, 4, and 8, would
likewise need to be amended to reflect such increases.

To help de-clog the dockets of the second level courts and increase the number of
cases that can be covered by the simpler procedures and quicker resolution
mandated by the Revised Rules on Small Claims Cases and Revised Rules on
Summary Procedure, the passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _9927

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

An Act Further Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit
Trial Courts, Amending for the Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Otherwise

Known as the “Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,” As Amended

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 19 of Batas Pambansa Big. 129, otherwise known as
the “Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,” As Amended, is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“Section 19. Jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Courts in Civil Cases. ~
Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction:

(2) In all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real property,
or any interest therein, where the assessed value exceeds Four Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P400,000.00), except for forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands or
buildings, original jurisdiction over which is conferred upon the Metropolitan Trial
Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit
Trial Courts;

(3) Inall actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand or
claims exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00);


(4) In all matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value
of the estate exceeds Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00);

(8) In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of
whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigations expenses and costs or the value of the
property in controversy exceeds Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00).”

SECTION 2. Section 33 of the same law is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Section 33. Jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial
Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in Civil
Cases. - Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial
Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:

(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings,
testate and intestate, including the grant of provisional remedies in proper
cases, where the value of the personal property, estate, or amount of the
demand does not exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00), exclusive of
interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses,
and costs, the amount of which must be specifically alleged: Provided,
That interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation
expenses, and costs shall be included in the determination of the filing
fees: Provided, further, That where there are several claims or causes of
actions between the same or different parties, embodied in the same
complaint, the amount of the demand shall be the totality of the claims in
all the causes of action, irrespective of whether the causes of action arose
out of the same or different transactions;

Xxx

(3) Exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil actions which involve title to, or
possession of, real property, or any interest therein where the assessed value


of the property does not exceed Four Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P400,000.00) exclusive of interest, damage of whatever kind, attorney's fees,
litigation expenses and costs: Provided, That in cases of land not declared for
taxation purposes, the value of such property shall be determined by the
assessed value of the adjacent lots.

(4)Exclusive original jurisdiction in admiralty and maritime actions where the
demand or claim does not exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00).

SECTION 3. Five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act and every five (5)
years thereafter, the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in Sec. 19 (2), (3), (4) and (8),
and Sec. 33 (1), (3) and (4) of Batas Pambansa Big. 129, as amended by this Act,
shall be increased by One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00).

SECTION 4. All laws, decrees, and orders inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act shall be considered amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all civil cases that have
not yet reached the pre-trial stage. However, by agreement of all the parties, civil
cases cognizable by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities,
Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts by the provisions of this Act
may be transferred from the Regional Trial Courts to the latter. The Supreme Court
shall define the administrative procedure for the transfer of cases affected by the
redefinition of jurisdiction to the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in
Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,