Republic of the Province of MUNICIPALITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

OFFICE OF THE

EXCERPTS FROM MINUTES OF THE 19th REGULAR SESSION FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2018 OF THE 10th SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF SAN FRANCISCO, CEBU, HELD AT THE MUNICIPAL SESSION HALL ON JUNE 25, 2018.

PRESENT: HON. ALFREDO A. ARQUILLANO, JR. Municipal Vice Mayor/Presiding Officer HON. ALLEN A. ARQUILLANO SB Member HON. SILVESTRE P. FORMENTERA, JR. SB Member HON. AURELIA P. ANDRADE SB Member HON. RENATO P. BORROMEO SB Member HON. ISRAEL B. GARRIDO SB Member

ABSENT/ON LEAVE: HON. AARON A. CAPAO, JR. SB Member (On Leave) HON. HECTOR L. CAPAO SB Member (On Leave) HON. APRONIANO S. OBENZA SB Member (On Leave) HON. NERISA L. ARQUILLANO ABC President/E Ex-officio Member (OB)

RESOLUTION NO. 071-2018

“GRANTING APPROVAL, RATIFICATION, AND FULL SUPPORT TO THE MOVE OF THE LEGAL ALTERNATIVES FOR WOMEN CENTER, INC., THROUGH ITS BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 02 SERIES OF 2017, STRONGLY URGING THE SUPREME COURT TO SET UP AND ESTABLISH AT LEAST ONE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT EACH TO ASSUME JURISDICTION OVER BANTAYAN GROUP OF ISLANDS-CEBU’S THREE MUNICIPALITIES (STA. FE, BANTAYAN AND MADRIDEJOS) AND THE CAMOTES GROUP OF ISLANDS-CEBU’S FOUR MUNICIPALITIES (SAN FRANCISCO, PORO, TUDELA AND PILAR)”

WHEREAS, the Legal Alternatives for Women Center, Inc. through its Board Resolution No. 02 Series of 2017 dated September 18, 2017, strongly urged and appealed to the Supreme Court to set up and establish at least one Regional Trail Court to assume jurisdiction over Bantayan Group of Islands – Cebu’s three Municipalities (Sta.Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos), and the Camotes Group of Islands – Cebu’s four Municipalities (San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, and Pilar);

WHEREAS, the Legal Alternatives for Women Center, Inc. is very much concerned to the additional burdens (big traveling expenses and long time of travel) of impoverished and marginalized women and children victims of violence and abuse from the Bantayan Group of Islands and the Camotes Group of Islands in accessing justice at their respective Regional Trial Court level which are both located in mainland Cebu;

WHEREAS, in fact, both Regional Trial Courts having respective jurisdictions over said Group of Islands also have jurisdictions over the Municipalities of , Borbon and San Remegio for the Regional Trial Court situated in Bogo City having jurisdiction over the Bantayan Group of Islands, and for the Regional Trial Court in Danao City having jurisdiction over the Camotes Group of Islands also have jurisdiction not only over Danao City but also the Municipalities of Carmen, and Sogod;

WHEREAS, the Municipality of San Francisco, sees the necessity of establishing another/new branch of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Cebu that is more accessible to its litigants that would handle and decide not only the particular classes or kinds of cases assigned to them by law, but also those which are not within the jurisdiction of the courts of the first level, particularly of the Municipal Trial Court in the Municipality of Poro, catering the entire Camotes Group of Islands;

WHEREAS, the Local Government Unit of San Francisco, Cebu, desires to give convenience and less travel expenses of the constituents of the entire Camotes Group of Islands having cases in the Regional Courts in Cebu, since the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) in Poro only has the exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of xxxxx municipal ordinances of the municipal LGUs in Camotes committed within their respective territorial jurisdiction as provided for in Section 32 (1) of BATAS PAMBANSA blg. 129;

WHEREAS, Section 18 of BATAS PAMBANSA blg. 129, provides that: Authority to define territory appurtenant to each branch. — The Supreme Court shall define the territory over which a branch of the Regional Trial Court shall exercise its authority. The territory thus defined shall be deemed to be the territorial area of the branch concerned for purposes of determining the venue of all suits, proceedings or actions, whether civil or criminal, as well as determining the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts over the said branch may exercise appellate jurisdiction. The power herein granted shall be exercised with a view to making the courts readily accessible to the people of the different parts of the region and making the attendance of litigants and witnesses as inexpensive as possible;

Resolution No. 071-2018 of San Francisco, Cebu

WHEREAS, considering of the above-mentioned situations and provisions of the law and the seen necessity of establishing a Regional Trial Court (RTC), this sangguniang bayan hopes and prayed that the Supreme Court feels the need to establish Regional Trial Courts (RTC) to handle and have jurisdiction respectively for the Bantayan Group of Islands and the Camotes Group of Islands.

Now, therefore, on motion of Hon. Aurelia P. Andrade, Chairman of the Committee on Women and Family duly seconded by Hon. Allen A. Arquillano and unanimously carried by all the Sangguniang Bayan Members of San Francisco, Cebu presents and assembled in session,

RESOLVED, that this Sangguniang Bayan hereby grants approval, ratification, and full support to the move of the Legal Alternatives For Women Center, Inc., through its BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 02 SERIES OF 2017, strongly urging the SUPREME COURT to set up and establish at least one REGIONAL TRIAL COURT each to assume jurisdiction over BANTAYAN GROUP OF ISLANDS-CEBU’S THREE MUNICIPALITIES (STA. FE, BANTAYAN AND MADRIDEJOS) and the CAMOTES GROUP OF ISLANDS-CEBU’S FOUR MUNICIPALITIES (SAN FRANCISCO, PORO, TUDELA AND PILAR).

FINALLY, to send copies of this resolution to the Supreme Court, Padre Faura, Ermita, , Philippines,, for approval of the highest judiciary.

PASSED BY A DULY CONSTITUTED QUORUM OF THE 10TH SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF SAN FRANCISCO, CEBU THIS 25TH DAY OF JUNE 2018.

Certified Correct: ZENAIDA M. FORMENTERA Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Attested: ALFREDO A. ARQUILLANO, JR. Municipal Vice Mayor/ Presiding Officer

Approved: ______Date

ALY A. ARQUILLANO Municipal Mayor