The local government of Manila announced plans to transfer all courts currently housed inside City Hall to a new Hall of Justice which aims to decongest Manila City Hall and follows word from the Supreme Court that the process for the new facility could begin this year.

The proposed Hall of Justice will be located in the old GSIS building across from City Hall.

According to the local government, the plan to build a new Hall of Justice began during the administration of former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, with groundbreaking in early 2010.

Funding for the project will come from the Supreme Court’s budget allocation.

Local government officials disclosed that the transfer will significantly help alleviate congestion in the historic Manila City Hall, which was built during the early American occupation.