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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2816

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE NANCY A. CATAMCO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the guarantees of our Constitution is the right to a speedy disposition of
cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies. To address this
guarantee, Batas Pambansa Big. 129 otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization
Act was enacted to, among others, allot the corresponding number of courts per judicial
region based on exigencies existing at that particular time.

However, the increasing volume of cases that are filed courts, has unduly
Clogged the dockets of the courts and have thus caused the delay in the resolution of
cases. To improve the administration of justice, it is submitted that the number of courts
must be increased.

Particularly in Kidapawan, the lone city in the Province of North Cotabato, there
is, as of the present, only one (1) Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC). Being that it is
only one, it is swamped with almost one thousand (1000) pending cases not to mention
an average of thirty (30) cases being additionally filed per month. On the average, such
a heavy case load of the lone MTCC of Kidapawan City is already equivalent to the
case load of four (4) branches of Municipal Trial Courts or even two Regional Trial
Courts. Certainly the speedy disposition of cases in the MTC of Kidapawan City is being
compromised to the great disadvantage of the litigants therein. Thus, it is respectfully


submitted that there be created additional branches of the said court in Kidapawan City,
North Cotabato.

This legislation seeks to further amend the provisions of Batas Pambansa Bitang
129 otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act and accordingly create two
(2) additional branches of the Municipal Trial Court in the Twelfth (12") Judicial Region
to be stationed at Kidapawan City, Province of North Cotabato.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is eamestly requested
by the undersigned representative.


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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
2816

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE NANCY A. CATAMCO

AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL
COURT IN CITIES IN THE CITY OF KIDAPAWAN, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
SECTION TWENTY-NINE OF BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG ISANG DAAN
DALAWAMPU'T SIYAM (BP 129), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY
REOGGANIZATION 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. Section 29 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known as the
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, as amended, is hereby further amended to read
as follows:
"SEC. 29. Municipal Trial Courts in Cities. — In every city which does not form
part of a metropolitan area, there shall be a Municipal Trial Court with one
branch, except as hereunder provided:
“Two branches for Laoag City;
“Four branches for Baguio City;
"Three branches for Dagupan City;
"Five branches for Olongapo City;
Three branches for Cabanatuan City;
“Two branches for San Jose City;

"Three branches for Angelen City;


"Two branches for Cavite City;

"Two branches for Batangas City;

“Two branches for Lucena City;

"Three branches for Naga City;

“Two branches for Iriga City;

"Three branches for Legaspi City;

“Two branches for Roxas City;

" Four branches for Iloilo City;

“Seven branches for Bacolod City;

"Two branches for Dumaguete City;
“Two branches for Tacloban City;

“Eight branches for Cebu City;

"Three branches for Mandaue City;
“Two branches for Tagbilaran City;

“Two branches for Surigao City;

"Two branches for Butuan City;

"Five branches for Cagayan de Oro City;
“Seven branches for Davao City;
“Three branches for Kidapawan City;”
"Three branches for General Santos City;
“Two branches for Oroquieta City;
“Three branches for Ozamis City;

"Two branches for Dipolog City:


“Four branches for Zamboanga City;
"Two branches for Pagadian City; and
“Two branches for lligan City."

“ Three branches for Calamba City.”

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 the two (2) additional municipal trial court branches in the city of
Kidapawan City, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriation Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.