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Republic of the Philippines; ,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City cs

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS . ~

First Regular Session

2878

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by REP. JULIETTE T. UY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) with a seat at the
Municipality of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental in light of the increasing number of cases being filed in the
province. ‘The geographical jurisdiction of the said RTC branch will include the eight municipalities of
‘Tagoloan, Villanueva, Claveria, Jasaan, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Salay and Binuangan, all in Misamis
Oriental.

‘The increasing population and the increased business activities in the cight aforementioned towns only
caffirms the necessity to cteate an additional RTC branch. ‘The addition of an RTC branch at
Villanueva will help in de-clogging the dockets of existing courts and generally improve the justice
system in the province. This measure shall also help business entities and people from all walks of lif
gain convenient and pensive access to the court and it ng the number of RT
branches from the present 19 t0 20 in Misamis Oriental with si town is beneficial and
necessary in the interest of the service.

At present, there are 19 RTC branches in Misamis Oriental and the cities of Cagayan de Oro and
Gingoog, Of this total, 14 RTC branches have seats in Cagayan de Oro City, two in Gingoog City, two
in the Municipality of Medina and one in the Municipality of Initao.

The 14 RTC branches in Cagayan de Oro City have original jurisdiction over the RIC cases coming
from the said city and the eight aforementioned municipalities on the eastern part of Misamis Oriental;
and the Municipality of Opol and El Salvador City on western part of the province. Additionally, these
14 RTC branches in Cagayan de Oro City also handle the appeals of cases decided by the 10 branches of
the Municipal ‘Trial Courts in Cagayan de Oro City (5 branches), El Salvador City and Opol town (1
branch) and the eight towns from Tagoloan to Binuangan (4 branche

Icis also noteworthy that the local government of Villanueva has firmly pledged to provide a suitable
parcel of land where the Hall of Justice for the said RTC branch can be built.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

Approved,



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2878

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by REP. JULIETTE T. UY

“AN ACT
CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
IN THE PROVINCE OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL TO BE STATIONED AT THE
MUNICIPALITY OF VILLANUEVA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,
PARAGRAPH (K) 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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. ‘There is hereby created an additional Regional Trial Court branch in the Tenth Judicial
Region, with seat at the Municipality of Villanueva, Province of Misamis Oriental.

The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly-created branch of the Regional Trial
Court in the Tenth Judicial Region.

SECTION 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 an
additional branch of the Regional Trial Court to be stationed at the Municipality of Villanueva, Province
of Misamis Oriental, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SECTION 3. Section 14 (k) of as Pambansa Blg. 129,
Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended, and all other la
inconsistent with this Act, are he

otherwise known as “he Judiciary
rules and regulations which are
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Off
Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,