Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 232

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AUDREY KAY T. ZUBIRI

AN ACT
CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE 10™ JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 14 (K) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980” AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Province of Bukidnon, with a 2020 population of approximately 1.541
million’. currently operates only ten (10) organized Regional Trial Court (RTC)
branches - stationed in Malaybalay City, Maramag, Don Carlos, Municipality of
Manolo Fortich, and Valencia City — with an estimated ratio of 150,000 individuals per
Regional Trial Court

While the Municipality of Quezon is geographically proximate to the Regional
Trial Court (RTC) branches located in Valencia City and Maramag, the existing court
infrastructure in these arcas is already stretched thin. Valencia City, with a population
of approximately 216,000, and Maramag, home to over 108,000 residents, together
serve a total of more than 324,000 people - excluding cascload spillovers from

surrounding municipalities such as Don Carlos, Kitaotao, and Quezon itself.

* htips://rss010.psa.gov.ph/special-release/node/S6339


Giiven these population figures and the growing number of criminal, civil, and
land-related disputes in the region, the RTC branches in Valencia and Maramag are not
sufficient to meet the rising demand for judicial services. Docket congestion persists,

and delays in case disposition remain a major concern for litigants and the courts.

The establishment of an additional branch of the RTC in the tenth judicial region
to be stationed in the Municipality of Quezon, will not only help decongest the courts
in nearby localities but also bring justice closer to underserved communities in the

southern corridor of Bukidnon.

Likewise, the establishment of an additional branch of the RTC affirms the
Constitutional duty of the State under Section 11, Article III of the 1987 Constitution
to provide access to courts and quasi-judicial bodies to any person. The establishment
of an additional RTC branch guarantees the right of the people to accessible justice

under the Constitution
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

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AUDREY KAY T. ZUBIRI
Representative, 3" District of Bukidnon


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

5
HOUSE BILLNO,__232

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AUDREY KAY T. ZUBIRI

AN ACT
CREATING ONE (1) ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE 10™ JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION 14(K) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980’ AS AMENDED

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

Congress assembled.

SEC. 1. One (1) additional branch of the Regional Trial Court in the Tenth
Judicial Region is hereby created and stationed in the Municipality of Quezon, Province
of Bukidnon.

The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the newly created branch of the
Regional Trial Court

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 one (1) additional branch of the Regional Trial Court
in the Municipality of Quezon, Province of Bukidnon. The Supreme Court shall issue

the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act and, if

warranted, the realignment of seats of existing branches and their territorial jurisdiction.


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SEC. 3. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act, including
appropriations for personnel services such as salaries, benefits and emoluments for the
judge and court personnel, court operations under maintenance and other operating
expenses (MOOE), and provisions for Hall of Justice or courtroom to accommodate the
judge and court staff, as well as funds necessary for the implementation of
automatically-created prosecutor positions pursuant to Section 13 of Republic Act No.
10071 or the "Prosecution Service Act of 2010” and appointment of public attorneys
pursuant to Section 7 of Republic Act No. 9406 or the “Act Reorganizing and
Strengthening the Public Attomney's Office (PAO), resulting from the creation of this
court, including appropriations for personnel services such as salaries, benefits, and
‘emoluments for prosccutors, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 4, Section 14 (K) 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. 5. 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,