BAGUIO CITY – The Supreme Court (SC) en banc approved the creation of two branches of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) to be stationed in the city as part of the efforts of the judiciary to decongest existing courts and guarantee the speedy disposition of cases.
The approval of the 2 additional RTC branches was done by the SC en banc during its session on August 8, 2017, upon the recommendation of the Court Administrator and it will be denominated as RTC Branch 78 and Branch 79.
As a result of the creation of the 2 additional RTC branches in the city, the SC also okayed the creation of positions of 2 RTC Judges, 2 Clerks of Court V, 2 Court Legal Researchers 2, 2 Interpreter 3, 8 Stenographer 3, 2 Sheriffs 4, 4 Clerk 3, 2 Process Servers and 2 Utility worker 1 which will be equally distributed to the courts that will be stationed in the city.
The High Court directed the Office of the Administrative Services to submit to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the newly created positions to be included in the personnel services itemization of the RTC for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act for funding purposes.
Further, the SC ordered the Financial Management Office to submit to the DBM the funding requirements for the full implementation of pertinent laws, rules and regulations.
The SC also directed the DBM to immediately release the supplemental allotment release order and the corresponding notice of cash allocation for the full implementation of pertinent laws, rules and regulations and hold in abeyance the organization of RTC Branches 78 and 79 in Baguio City until such time that the DBM has released the allotment release order and the cash allocation for the full operation of the courts.
It also directed the amendment of all court records to conform to the creation of the 2 additional RTC Branches in Baguio city.
The existing RTC branches in the city include Branches 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 59, 60 and 61.
The SC will conduct an assessment and evaluation of the Baguio Justice Hall building in preparation for its proposed rehabilitation and upgrading to ensure that the newly created RTC branches will be accommodated once they are operational.
Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan welcomed the latest SC resolution on the creation of the 2 additional RTC branches for Baguio city, saying that these will definitely contribute to facilitating the resolution of cases and decongest the existing courts guaranteeing the speedy disposition of justice.
He expressed optimism that the DBM will promptly act on the necessary funding for the newly created positions and the maintenance and operating expenses of the courts so that the 2 additional RTC branches will start their operations the soonest.
He added that the appointments of the personnel for the 2 additional RTC branches should be done the soonest in preparation for the expected operation of the courts in the city.
By Dexter A. See
