HOUSE OF NTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
‘st Regular Session

RATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

HOUSE BILL NO. 45i

Introduced by Honorable Luey Marie Torres-Gomez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In ancient times, the “King’s peace” guaranteed the citizens of the realm just
resolution of their disputes so as not to disrupt the existing political order. In today’s
democratic society, we have institutional frameworks for conflict resolution, foremost of
which is the courts.

Justice, however, as a basic need of man, has been hampered by a number of factors
in modern Philippine society. Even relatively simple cases have been known to languish in
our courts due to moneyed interests, multi-layered appeals, and the clogging of the dockets of
our courts

For instance, the combined caseload of the two (2) existing branches of the Regional
Trial Court in Ormoc City, Province of Leyte has been found to be 2,187, averaging 1,094
cases per branch (as of april 2016). This is a far cry from the ideal or manageable ratio of
300-450 caseload for each branch, With judicial reforms towards the facilitation of the
caseflow of the courts taking a long time in the coming, the more immediate remedy would
be to increase the number of courts so as to mitigate instances of “justice delayed” which is
anathema to our administration of justice in the country.

The recent enactment of R.A. No, 10541, creating an additional RTC branch in
Ormoe City, although a much welcome relief of court congestion, is still deemed not
sufficient to address the ever-increasing number of cases filed.

In view therefore of the urgency of this bill, which seeks to create two (2) additional
branches of the Regional Trial Court in the City of Ormoe, Province of Leyte, its early
approval is most earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

5
HOUSE BILL NO. 451

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

AN ACT

CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF LEYTE TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF
ORMOC, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (I) OF
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE 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. Two (2) additional Regional Trial Court branches for Ormoc City,

Leyte, with seats thereat, are hereby created in the Eight Judicial Region.

SECTION 2, The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the newly

created branches.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 4. Section 14 (i) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwi:

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,

Ss

‘CTION 5. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of the general

circulation.

Approved,

sa