Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

B
House Bill No. 72

Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers

AN ACT
CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
(RTC) IN SURIGAO DEL NORTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (K) OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY ACT OF 1980”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 2" District of Surigao del Norte is composed of 11 municipalities and one
city with a total population of 398,544." As of the present, there are only two (2)
Regional Trial Courts serving the 2™ District of Surigao del Norte, particularly RTC
Branch 29 and RTC Branch 30. RTC Branch 32, while it may have catered several
cases for Surigao del Norte, is actually a court for the Province of Dinagat Islands. As
of the present, the caseload of the stated RTCs are as follows:

RTC Branch 29 - 716 active cases
550 Criminal Cases
166 Civil Cases
RTC Branch 30, — 1,180 active cases
794 Criminal Cases
214 Civil Cases
69 Special Proceedings Cases
109 Land Cases
RTC Branch 320 — 1,205 active cases
754 Surigao del Norte Cases
451 Dinagat Cases

The pronounced disparity of the number of RTCs vis-a-vis the number of
inhabitants attributes as the main factor in the congestion of cases. Consequently, the
heavy caseload leads to the delay in the resolution of those cases.

It is fitting to recall the provision of Sec. 16, Art. III of the 1987 Constitution
which states “(a) all persons shall have the right to the speedy disposition of their cases
before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies." However, with the present
caseload of the existing RTCs in the 2" District of Surigao del Norte, there is a
seeming impossibility to abide by the stated constitutional mandate. The maxim
“JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED" holds a special implication.

* Based on 2020 census


All of the foregoing considered, the passage of this

sure is eamestly
‘sought.

HON. BERNADETTE S. BARBERS
2 Distrfet, Surigao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2
House Bill No. 72

Introduced by Hon. Bernadette S. Barbers

AN ACT
CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
(RTC) IN SURIGAO DEL NORTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (K) OF BATAS
PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY ACT OF 1980”

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

SECTION 1. Three (3) additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the
Tenth Judicial Region are hereby created and stationed in the Province of Surigao del
Norte, as follows:

1. Two (2) branches in the City of Surigao; and
2. One (1) branch in the Municipality of Claver.

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 additional branches of the Regional Trial Court
in the City of Surigao and in the Municipality of Claver, Province of Surigao del Norte.

SEC. 3. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act, including
appropriations for personnel services such as salaries, benefits, and emoluments for
judges and court personnel, court operations under maintenance and other operating
expenses, and provisions for Halls of Justice or courtrooms to accommodate judges and
court staff, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. Section 14 (k) of Batas Pambansa Big. 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 a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,