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

15 CONGRESS
1 Regular Session

House BLL No. 1482

Introduced by HONORABLE BENHUR L. SALIMBANGON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks the creation of an additional Regional Trial Court (RTC) in the
City of Bogo, Province of Cebu, amending for the purpose Batas Pambansa Blg, 129
otherwise known as the “Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981” and appropriating funds
therefor.

‘The judiciary, being the constitutionally designated arbiter of the legal disputes in
our democratic system of government must at all time render expedient disposition of
cases and must likewise be accessible to the public. One of the constitutionally mandated
rights of every Filipino citizen is speedy disposition of his/her case. Such can only be
attained if there are enough courts available to the public to hear and decide cases, At
present, the 4" district of the Province of Cebu comprising of Bogo City and eight (8)
municipalities namely: Bantayan, Daan Bantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remegio,
Sta. Fe, Tabogon and Tabuelan has only one (1) seat of Regional Trial Court which at
present is stationed at Bogo City. With the growing population of the 4" district and with
the advent of cityhood of Bogo, there is already an urgent need for the creation of an
additional Regional Trial Court to be stationed at Bogo City in order to properly serve the
administration of justice and bring the same closer to the public, to render swift justice
and, to lighten the docket of the already heavily burdened Regional Trial Court in the 4
District.

Hence, the approval of this Bill earnestly recommended.

BENHUR L. SALIMBANGON
‘Congressman
4" District, Cebu


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

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

- 1482

INTRODUCED BY HON. BENHUR L. SALIMBANGON

AN ACT.

CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF BOGO, PROVINCE OF CEBU,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14 , PARAGRAPH (H) OF THE
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7154,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF
1980”, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section I. Section 14, paragraph (h) of the Batas Pambansa Ble. 129, otherwise
known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows

“Sec. 14. Regional Trial Courts.

XXX

“(h) [Sixty-Four] Sixty-Five Regional Trial Court Judges shall be
commissioned for the Seventh Judicial Region. There shall be:

XXX

“[Thirty-Five] Thirty Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of
Cebu and the Cities of Cebu, Danao, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue and Toledo, with seats
at Cebu City, Danao City, Argao, Lapu-lapu City, Mandaue City, Toledo City,
Barili, [Bogo] Bogo City and Oslob;

XXX


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 with station at
the Bogo City;

Section 3. The Supreme Court shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of this Act and if warranted, the realignment of the seats of
existing branches and their territorial jurisdictions.

Section 4. The amount necessary for the creation of the Regional Trial Court shall
be funded out of the appropriations for the Judiciary. Thereafter, such sum as may be
necessary for its operation and maintenance shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations-Act.

Section 5. This act shall take effect upon its approval

APPROVED,