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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 6318

Introduced by HON. RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“Justice delayed is justice denied’ goes the cliché. True. Heavy caseload of courts
is one of the main reasons of delayed justice. And the ratio between the number of cases
filed and the number of courts is one of the main reasons for the heavy caseloads.

The sheer number of cases in Bohol courts poses the following challenges, among
others: (1) non-resolution of cases within the timeframe prescribed by the Supreme
Court; (2) overworked judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other court personnel; (3)
additional costs and burdens to litigants in terms of money, time and effort; (4)
inconvenience and security risks to litigants and witnesses; (5) prolonged detention of
the accused; (6) integrity of the evidence; (7) unnecessary build up of records; (8)
additional operational expenses and budget for the courts; (9) tough court management;
and ultimately, (10) delayed delivery of justice.

Moreover, it is no justice when we expect our judges to do the impossible of
resolving cases expeditiously when they are given so much more than the ideal caseload
per count which at the moment is pegged at 300-400 cases per regional trial court.

To date, Bohol has 11 RTCs with one still unorganized: seven (7) are in Tagbilaran
City while the remaining four (4) are situated in 3 municipalities (Loay, Carmen and
Talibon). There are forty seven (47) municipalities and (1) one city in Bohol.

This legislative proposal, hence, seeks to create additional regional trial court
branches in the Province of Bohol to be stationed at the municipality of Tubigon.

Tubigon is a coastal town located in the north-western part of the province. This
first class municipality is 54 km to the north Tagbilaran City. With economic
development plans now pointing to Tubigon which houses the second largest and
busiest port in the province, the creation of courts to be situated there is not only
strategic but practical. Not only will it serve constituents in the first district but will
benefit court as well as caseload distribution in the whole province. Justice served!

For the above considerations, the passage of this law is earnestly sought.

we
as RELAMPAGOS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

8
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
~ First Regular Session

. 6318

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by HON. RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

“AN ACT
CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF BOHOL TO BE STATIONED IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF TUBIGON, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION
14, PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG. 129, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS “rHE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1098”, AS.
MENDED, 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 Regional Trial Court banches for the
Municipality of Tubigon, Province of Bohol, with seats thereat, are hereby created in the
Seventh Judicial Region.

SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch numbers for the newly-
created Regional Trial Court branches in the Seventh Judicial Region.

s The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the
cretary of Justice shall immediately include in the in the Court's program the
implementation of this Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the
general Appropriations Act.

SE - Section 14, paragraph (h) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known
as “The Judiciary Reorganizations 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.

EC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,