Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
1115

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Recognizing the pressing need of providing for an expeditious and
competent administration of justice, no less than Section 16 Article 3 of our
Constitution mandates that “all persons shall have the right to a speedy
disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative
bodies.” Unfortunately, however, this does not hold true in most parts of our
country including the Eighth Judicial Region where the city of Tacloban is.

In Tacloban, the large number of pending undecided cases may be
explained by the rapid population growth and increase in industrial and
commercial activities in the city because of its conversion into a highly urbanized
city on December 17, 2008. This development has drastically changed the socio-
economic landscape of the city and effected an alarming upsurge in criminal and
civil cases being filed in the existing branches of the Regional Trial Courts in
Cities (RTC).

The situation where more cases are raffled to each branch compared to
the number of cases that each judge can humanely dispose creates
demoralization and apathy to the judge.

Hence, the creation of additional branches of the regional trial courts to be
stationed in Tacloban City will considerably reduce the backlog of unattended
and undisposed cases.

Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

FERDINAND'MARTIN G. ROMMALDEZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
1115

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE FERDINAND MARTIN G. bn emeters

AN ACT
CREATING ADDITIONAL TWO (2) BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT (RTC) IN THE CITY OF TACLOBAN, AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTION 29 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 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 in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 14, paragraph (i) of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129,
otherwise known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 as amended, is
hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 14. Regional Trial Courts.

(i) [Thirty-three] THIRTY-FIVE Regional Trial Judges shall be
commissioned for the Eighth Judicial Region. There shall be:


[Thirteen] FIFTEEN branches (Branches VI to XVIII) for the
province of Leyte, the sub-province of Biliran, and the cities of Ormoc and
Tacloban, Branches VI and IX with seats at Tacloban City, Branch X at
Abuyog, Branch XI at Calubian, Branch Xil at Ormoc City, Branch XIll at
Carigara, Branch XIV at Baybay, Branch XV at Burauen, Branch XVI at
Naval, Branch XVII at Palompon, and Branch XVIII at Hilongos;

XXX

SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign two additional branches of the
Regional Trial Court in Tacloban City, Province of Leyte in accordance with this
Act.

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 operationalization of two (2) additional branches of the Regional
Trial Court in the Province of Leyte, to be stationed in the City of Tacloban, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,