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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Ci

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4841

HOUSE BILL NO,

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH IN THE
FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF
CALAUAG, PROVINCE OF QUEZON, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Martin Luther King, Jr., a revered civil rights advocate, famously decried that “justice
delayed is justice denied.” The truth of Mr, King’s words, unfortunately, still very much resonate to
this day with the plight of many Filipinos whose cases have long languished or are still languishing,
in our court

It is not uncommon to see stacks of case files finding their way into the corridors of our
courts simply because they could not keep up with the volume of cases that are brought for thei
disposition, Due to the sheer volume of cases in our courts, it is possible that the wheels of justice
may grind toa halt,

Such is the case in the Regional Trial Court Branch in the Municipality of Calauag, Province
‘on, which covers the municipalities of Calauag, Lopez, Tagkawayan and Guinayangan, The
dense population of these localities and high incidence of erime, particularly drug cases within its
jurisdiction has brought the court inventory of criminal cases from more than 400 in 2014 to more
than 1,400 cases in 2016, Such situation may have been triggered by the steady increase in our
population from the time when the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 or Batas Pambansa 129
allotted the corresponding number of courts per judicial region based on the exigencies then
existing.

With rapid development and increasing human activity in the Quezon Province, it is
certain that the number of legal conflicts will only steadily increase in the coming ye
need to create an additional court to address the overload.

most
ence, the

It is hoped that the passage of this bill will help realize the Constitution’s mandate that gives
each person “the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or
administrative bodies" (Section 16, Article III, 1987 Philippine Constitution).

In view of the foregoing provisions, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

(Min

ANGELINA “HELE CA TAN, M.D.
4th District, Quezon



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4843 —

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH IN THE
FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF
CALAUAG, PROVINCE OF QUEZON, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE,
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “FHE JUDICIARY
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. One (1) additional Regional Trial Court branch is hereby created in the Fourth
Judicial Region with seat at the Municipality of Calauag, Province of Quezon,

SEC.
the Regional Tr

he Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly-created branch of
] Court in the Fourth Judicial Region.

SEC. 3. 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 implementation of this
Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. ‘The
funds necessary for the operation of the Court herein created shall be appropriated and released
only upon the actual organization of the Court and the appointment of its personnel.

SEC, 4, Section 14(e) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, as well as other provisions that may be inconsistent
herewith, are hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further amended.

SEC.
Official Gi

‘his Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its publication in the
tte or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,