AFTER 40 years, Batas Pambansa (BP) Blg. 129 is now amended through a new law, Republic Act (RA) No. 11576 or the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 2021.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the [new] “law will no doubt help declog the dockets of our second-level courts, which in turn would lead to a faster adjudication of case and better administration of justice.”
RA 11576 amended Sections 19 and 33 of BP Blg. 129.
Under the new law, Regional Trial Courts (RTC) in civil cases will exercise exclusive original jurisdiction which involved title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, where the assessed value exceeds ₱400,000, except for forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands or buildings. Ejectment cases remain with the first level courts which have original jurisdiction.
First level courts refer to the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.
The RTC has jurisdiction in all actions in admiralty and maritime actions where the demand or claims exceeds P2,000,000. Additionally, it has jurisdiction in all matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds P2,000,000.
Furthermore, the RTC has jurisdiction in all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses and costs or the value of the property in controversy exceeds P2,000,000.
Previously, the RTC only has jurisdiction with the amount that exceeds P100,000 and in Metro Manila, P200,000.
The jurisdiction of the first level courts was likewise amended.
These courts have exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings, testate and intestate, including the grant of provisional remedies in proper cases, where the value of personal property, estate, or the amount of demand does not exceed P2,000,000. It is exclusive of interest, damages, of whatever kind, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and costs. The amount of these should be alleged.
They will also exercise exclusive original jurisdiction which involved title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, where the assessed value does not exceed P400,000.
It should be noted that lands which are not declared for taxation purposes, the value of such property shall be determined by the assessed value of the adjacent lots.
When it comes to admiralty and maritime actions the jurisdiction covers the demand or claims that do not exceed P2,000,000.
The new law is also created to be more suitable to the current economic condition and property valuation in the country. Thus, the Supreme Court has a delegated authority to adjust the jurisdictional amounts for the first and second level courts to:
1. reflect the extraordinary supervening inflation or deflation of currency
2. reflect change in the land valuation
3. maintain the proportion of caseload between first and second level courts
The law shall be applied prospectively. It means that it will only cover cases filed after the effectivity of the law which will take effect 15 days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two national newspapers of general circulation.
The law was published or uploaded in the Official Gazette on Aug. 4, 2021. It will take effect on Aug. 20, 2021. /PN
