R.A. 11576

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11576

Expansion of Jurisdiction of Trial Courts
- Amends Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980"

Regional Trial Courts (Section 1)
• Exclusive original jurisdiction in civil actions involving:
    - Title to or possession of real property with assessed value exceeding P400,000 (Section 1(2))
    - Admiralty and maritime cases with demand or claims exceeding P2,000,000 (Section 1(3))
    - Probate cases with gross value of estate exceeding P2,000,000 (Section 1(4))
    - Other cases with demand, exclusive of interest, damages, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs, or value of property exceeding P2,000,000 (Section 1(8))

Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (Section 2)
• Exclusive original jurisdiction in:
    - Civil actions and probate proceedings with value of personal property, estate, or amount of demand not exceeding P2,000,000, exclusive of interest, damages, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs (Section 2(1))
    - Civil actions involving title to or possession of real property with assessed value not exceeding P400,000, exclusive of interest, damages, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs (Section 2(3))
    - Admiralty and maritime actions with demand or claim not exceeding P2,000,000 (Section 2(4))

Supreme Court's Delegated Authority (Section 3)
• The Supreme Court may adjust the jurisdictional amount for first and second level courts to:
    - Reflect extraordinary supervening inflation or deflation of currency
    - Reflect change in land valuation
    - Maintain proportion of caseload between first and second level courts

Prospective Application (Section 4)
• The provisions shall apply prospectively to all civil cases filed in second level courts and first level courts from the date of effectivity.

Separability Clause (Section 5)
• If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the other provisions shall remain valid and effective.

Repealing Clause (Section 6)
• All laws, decrees, and orders inconsistent with this Act shall be considered amended or modified accordingly.

Effectivity (Section 7)
• This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.