Stressing the need for a speedy delivery of justice in the country, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go continues to push for measures that aim to help address bureaucratic delays in the disposition of cases and labor disputes.
The senator reintroduced Senate Bill Nos. 1186 and 1187, creating additional divisions in the Court of Appeals and the National Labor Relations Commission, respectively.
Go reiterated that the right to a speedy trial and disposition is usually infringed due to unpredictable and oppressive delays. Thus, SBN 1186 shall amend the Batas Pambansa Bilang 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act to restructure the CA to declog the appellate court's dockets. It seeks to add three more divisions of the CA, each with three members.
"Let us help strengthen the judiciary in fulfilling its role and functions," he said.
The bill also mandates the CA to hold continuous trials and hearings which "must be completed within three months unless extended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court."
Meanwhile, SBN 1187 shall amend the relevant provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines and create an additional division of the NLRC to be established in Davao City. It shall likewise increase the number of commissioners from 23 to 26 as each NLRC division is composed of three members.
Go noted that with a growing number of local and overseas workers, the NLRC is now tasked with more significant responsibility. He pointed out that the increase in the number of workers under the NLRC's jurisdiction calls for the corresponding expansion of the body in order to minimize case backlogs and address labor disputes in a more timely manner.
"Creating an additional division of the NLRC will be beneficial for the proper administration and implementation of the labor laws and rules," he stressed.
The senator added that the three-decade-old Labor Code has to keep abreast with the needs and challenges of the present time.
If the bill is passed into law, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth divisions of NLRC shall have main offices in Metro Manila and handle cases coming from the National Capital Region and other parts of Luzon. Meanwhile, the seventh division, with main office in Cebu City, shall handle cases from Visayas; and the eight division, with main office in Cagayan de Oro City, and the proposed ninth division, with main office in Davao City, shall handle cases from Mindanao.
