Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 628

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JOEL MAYO Z. ALMARIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create two additional branches each of the Regional Trial
Court (RTC) and the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in the City of Mati, Davao
Oriental.

In the past decade, the City of Mati has transformed itself to become the
primary education and economic hub of Davao Oriental. As more opportunities
became available, more and more people from across the southern regions migrate
and continue to relocate to the city. The influx of people as well as the corresponding
economic growth inevitably resulted in an increase in legal cases, both civil and
criminal. Accordingly, the dockets of the judicial courts of the City of Mati have
increased and the dispensation of justice is affected. The volume of cases currently
pending before the two RTCs and the sole MTCC in the city affects the speedy
dispensation of cases in a timely manner. This runs contrary to Section 16, Article IIL
of the Philippine Constitution that assures each person of the right to a speedy trial.
The creation of new courts through the passage of this bill will remedy the legal
situation in the city and clear the court dockets, allowing not only for a speedy
disposition of cases, but for the dissemination of justice and peaceful relations as well.

A similar version of this bill was previously filed and approved on third and
final reading during by the House of Representatives during the 17% Congress, In
consonance with the State’s mandate of providing an effective mechanism for the
efficient administration of justice, support for this bf is earnestly sought.

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24 District, Davao Oriental


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 828

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JOEL MAYO Z. ALMARIO

AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS AND TWO
(2) ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES IN THE CITY OF MATI,
DAVAO ORIENTAL, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980",
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR:

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

SECTION 1. Two (2) additional branches of the Regional Trial Court branches
and two (2) additional branches of the Municipal Trial Court to be stationed in the
City of Mati, Province of Davao Oriental, are hereby created in the Eleventh Judicial
Region.

The Supreme Court shalll assign the respective branch numbers for the newly

created branches of the Regional Trial Court and Municipal Trial Court.

SECTION 2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Justice, shalt immediately include in the Court's
program the operationalization of the additional branches of the Regional Trial Court,
and the Municipal Trial Court to be stationed in the City of Mati, Province of Davao
Oriental, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.


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SECTION 3. Section 14 (I) and Section 29 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129,
otherwise known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended and all
other laws, rules and regulations that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby

amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in

the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.