CEBU, Philippines - Senator Chiz Escudero announced that the Senate had approved on third and final reading the creation of 71 new courts, including one Regional Trial Court in Negros Oriental and 14 more in Barili town and the cities of Danao and Mandaue in Cebu province.
Other RTCs are one each in North Cotabato and Isabela provinces, four each in Tarlac, Compostela Valley and Bukidnon provinces, five in Malabon City, six in Pampanga province, 10 in San Pedro, Sta. Cruz and Biñan towns in Laguna province and 17 in San Mateo and Antipolo City in Rizal province.
Also approved were the creation of one Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) in Malabon City and one Municipal Trial Court in City (MTCC) in Antipolo City.
“The creation of these new courts in various provinces in the country would significantly decrease the number of unresolved cases in the regional and municipal courts,” Escudero said.
The senator, chair of the justice and human rights committee, said he will also sponsor on the Senate the creation of 101 additional courts apart from the 71 new courts.
Currently being routed for signing by the members of his committee and that of the committee on finance are seven more courts and the conversion of seven RTCs from Pasig City to Taguig City.
“Once these bills are enacted into law, it would be easier for people filing or facing charges before the court to attend hearings,” said.Escudero, adding that some cases remain unresolved due to the failure of the complainants to attend court hearings, which are held far from where they live. — CONTRIBUTED (FREEMAN)