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

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILL No._ 1374
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Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In ancient times, the “King’s peace” guaranteed the citizens of the realm just resolution
of their disputes so as not to disrupt the existing political order. In today’s democratic society,
we have institutional frameworks for conflict resolution, foremost of which is the courts.

Justice, however, as a basic need of man, has been hampered by a number of factors in
modem Philippine society. Even relatively simple cases have been known to languish in our
courts due to moneyed interests, multi-layered appeals, and the clogging of the dockets of our
courts.

For instance, the combined caseload of the two (2) existing branches of the Regional
‘Trial Court in Ormoc City, Province of Leyte has been found to be 1,562, averaging 781 cases
per branch. This is a far cry from the ideal or manageable ratio of 300-450 caseload for each
branch. With judicial reforms towards the facilitation of the caseflow of the courts taking a long
time in the coming, the more immediate remedy would be to increase the number of courts so as
to mitigate instances of “justice delayed” which is anathema to our administration of justice in
the country.

‘The recent enactment of R.A. No. 10541, creating an additional RTC branch in Ormoc
City, although a much welcome relief of court congestion, is still deemed not sufficient to
address the ever-increasing number of cases filed.

In view therefore of the urgency of this bill, which seeks to create two (2) additional
branches of the Regional Trial Court in the City of Ormoc, Province of Leyte, its early approval
is most earnestly sought. /

LUgX TORI OMEZ


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

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

nouse BLL No,_ 1374

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez.

AN ACT
CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT IN THE PROVINCE OF LEYTE TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF
ORMOC, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (I) 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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. ‘Two (2) additional Regional Trial Court branches for Ormoc City,
Leyte, with seats thereat, are hereby created in the Eight Judicial Region.

SEC 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number for the newly created
branches.

SEC3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary o}
the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court’s program the implementation
of this Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual General
‘Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the Court herein create shall be
appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the Court and the appointment of
its personnel.

SEC 4. Section 14 (i) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary
Reorganization Act of 1980” as amended, as well as other provisions that may be inconsistent
herewith, are hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further amended.

SEC 5. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,