Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2884
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Dale “Along” R. Malapitan

Explanatory Note

This bill which was originally filed in the 17% Congress and approved by
the House on third and final reading seeks to create four (4) additional branches
of the Regional Trial Court in the National Capital Judicial Region to be stationed
in Caloocan City, Metro Manila.

‘The proposed measure aims to hasten the handling and disposition of
cases in compliance with Section 16, Article III of the 1987 Constitution which
provides as a matter of right of every citizen for the speedy disposition of their
cases.

At present, there are thirteen Regional Trial Court branches in Caloocan
City. These courts are experiencing severe backlog in the disposition of cases
pending before them due to their sheer limited number and inadequacy of
resources. This fact has led to the delay in the administration of justice.

Based on the data supplied by the Office of the Court Administrator, that
as of June 2016, there are a total of 5,762.9 cases or an average of 523 cases
pending before the twelve RTC branches in Caloocan City alone, a far cry from
the identified manageable caseload of three hundred (300) cases as assessed by
the Office of the Court Administrator.

Thus, given this existing facts and the taking into consideration the fast-
growing economy as well as population of the city, and coupled with the expected
increase in the filing of criminal cases in the light of the government's crackdown
on illegal drugs, it becomes apparent that the number of RTC branches in this
city is exceedingly deficient.

‘The creation of four additional branches will help unclog or operate to
decrease the number of caseloads of the existing RTC branches in Caloocan City,
thereby assist in promoting the attainment of the identified manageable caseload
300 cases.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate consideration and approval of this

bill is highly recommended.
HON. mae le, Tha poh


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __ 2884

Introduced by Rep. Dale “Along” R. Malapitan

AN ACT
CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL
TRIAL COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION TO
BE STATIONED IN THE CITY OF CALOOCAN, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14
(D) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 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:

SECTION 1. Four (4) additional branches of the Regional Trial Court to
be stationed in the City of Caloocan, Metro Manila, are hereby created in
the National Capital Judicial Region, with seats at Caloocan City North.

The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the
newly created branches 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 the four (4) additional branches of
the Regional Trial Court to be stationed in the City of Caloocan, Metro Manila,
the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 3. Section 14 (d) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known
as the “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 any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,