Aquino signs law creating 2 new RTCs in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has signed into law a bill creating two additional regional trial court (RTC) branches in Laguna in a bid to unclog dockets in the province and speed up the dispensation of justice.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the President signed on April 17 Republic Act 10162 to amend the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 and address the lack of RTCs in Laguna impeding the resolution of cases.

There is no RTC in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna and litigants have to travel to adjacent Biñan City and Cabuyao town to attend criminal and civil cases and special proceedings.

RA 10162 originated from the House of Representatives under House Bill 4488, which tasked the Supreme Court (SC) to assign the branch number of the newly created RTC branches in the Fourth Judicial Region.

It also tasked the chief justice and the Justice secretary to immediately include the creation of the additional RTC branches in the SC program, with funding to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

RA 10162 takes effect 15 days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation.