Expanding MTCs Jurisdiction

Supreme Court Lauds Passage of RA No.
11576
August 5, 2021
The Supreme Court is pleased with the signing into law of Republic Act (R.A.)
No. 11576, the law expanding the jurisdiction of trial courts nationwide.
“Through this new law, the jurisdictional amounts of our trial courts have now
been adjusted to levels which are more suitable to the current economic
conditions and property valuation in the country,” said Chief Justice Alexander
G. Gesmundo. “This law will no doubt help declog the dockets of our second-
level courts, which in turn would lead to a faster adjudication of cases and
better administration of justice,” he added.
R.A. No. 11576, or “An Act Further Expanding the Jurisdiction of the
Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts,
and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, Amending for the Purposes Batas Pambansa
Blg. 129, Otherwise Known as ‘The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980,’ As
Amended,” amends Section 19 of BP Blg. 129 by increasing the jurisdictional
amount cognizable by the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) in all civil actions which
involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, from
the previous amount of P20,000 (P50,000 in Metro Manila) to P400,000, except
for forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands and buildings, original
jurisdiction over which remains with the first-level courts.
R.A. No. 11576 also increases the jurisdiction of the RTCs in all actions and
maritime jurisdiction where the demand or claims exceeds P2,000,000, from
the previous amount of P300,000 (P400,000 in Metro Manila); in all matters of
testate and intestate probate where the gross value of the estate
exceeds P2,000,000, from the previous amount of P300,000 (P400,000 in
Metro Manila); and 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.
The new law likewise delegates to the Supreme Court the authority to adjust
the jurisdictional amount for first- and second-level courts to: (1) reflect the
extraordinary supervening inflation and deflation of currency; (2) reflect change
in the land valuation; or (3) maintain the proportion of caseload between first-
and second-level courts, without prejudice on the part of the Congress to adjust
the amounts when the circumstances warrant.
“I would like to thank the leaders of both houses of Congress and all lawmakers
who supported the bill. I also personally thank Sen. Richard J. Gordon,
Chairperson of Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, who worked
hard for the passing of the bill. I likewise acknowledge my predecessors, Chief
Justice Lucas P. Bersamin who first broached the idea with lawmakers about
amending the law on the jurisdiction of our trial courts, and Chief Justice
Diosdado M. Peralta who pushed for the approval of the bill in Congress,” said
Chief Justice Gesmundo.
The last time the jurisdictional amounts of trial courts nationwide were adjusted
was on February 22, 2004, when the amount in Sec. 33(1) of BP Blg. 129 for
first-level courts outside of Metro Manila was increased to P300,000. The
jurisidictional amount of Metro Manila first-level courts had been previously
adjusted to P400,000 on March 20, 1999.
Since 2004, no other amendment to the jurisdictional amounts of the first-level

courts has been introduced.
R.A. No. 11576 was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on July 30,
2021. It will take effect 15 days following its publication in the Official Gazette
or in two newspapers of general circulation.
EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE LOWER COURTS.

Republic Act No. 11576, which was recently signed into law, has expanded the jurisdiction of
Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTC), Municipal Trial Courts in Cities (MTCC), Municipal Trial Courts
(MTC), and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTC). RA No. 11576 amended certain provisions of
Batas Pambansa (B.P.) Blg. 129 or the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980.
Section 1 of RA 11576 provides that Section 19 of BP 129 be amended granting the Regional Trial
Courts (RTCs) exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions, namely:
(2) those that involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein where
assessed value exceeds Php400,000.00, except for cases of forcible entry into, and unlawful
detainer of lands or buildings the jurisdiction over which is conferred to the MeTC, MTCC, MTC,
and MCTC.
(3) all actions in admirality and marine jurisdiction where demand for claims exceeds
Php2,000,000.00
(4) all matter of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds
Php2,000,000.00
( 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
Php2,000,000.00
Section 2 od RA 11575 further provides that Section 33 of BP 129 be amended granting the MeTC,
MTCC, MTC, and MCTC exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions, namely:
(1) civil actions and probate proceedings, testate and intestate, including the grant of remedies in
proper cases, where the value of the personal property estate or amount of the demands not
exceeding Php2,000,00.00 exclusive of exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney’s
fees, litigation expenses and costs
(3) all civil actions which involve title to, or possession of, real property or any interest therein, that
does not exceed Php400,000.00 exclusive of exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind,
attorney’s fees, litigation expenses and costs
(4) admirality and maritime actions where the demand or claim does not exceed Php2,000,000.00
The Supreme Court was also delegated with tbe authority to adjust the jurisdictional amounts for
the first and second level courts.
Pres. Duterte signs law expanding jurisdiction of lower courts. Signed on July 30, Republic Act
11576 amended some of the provisions of the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980.
Under RA 11576, the regional trial courts shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction in all civil actions
involving the title to, or possession of, real property valued at P400,000, from the previous P20,000
to P50,000.
A measure seeking to widen the jurisdiction of first and second level courts has been signed into
law by President Duterte in a bid to hasten the disposition of cases.
Under Republic Act No. 11576, the jurisdiction of metropolitan trial courts, municipal trial courts in
cities, municipal trial courts, and municipal circuit trial courts will be further expanded. The new
law, seeking to unclog the dockets of these courts, amended the Judiciary Reorganization Act of
1980.
Under RA 11576, the regional trial courts shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction in all civil actions
involving the title to, or possession of, real property valued at P400,000, from the previous P20,000
to P50,000.
The RTCs will also have jurisdiction on actions in all admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the
demand or claims exceeds P2 million as well as all matters of probate, both testate and intestate,
where the gross value of the estate exceeds P2 million. The previous jurisdictional threshold ranged
between P100,000 to 200,000.
On jurisdiction of metropolitan trial courts, municipal trial courts in cities, municipal trial courts,
and municipal circuit trial courts in civil cases, they will exercise jurisdiction over civil actions and
probate proceedings, testate and intestate where the value of personal property, estate or the
amount of the demand does not exceed P2 million.
These courts will also have jurisdiction in all civil actions that involve title to, or possession of, real
property, or any interest where the assessed value does not exceed P400,000. Admiralty and
maritime actions where the demand or claim does not surpass P2 million will also be under the
jurisdiction of these courts.
The new law also included a provision on the delegated authority of the Supreme Court to adjust
the jurisdictional amounts for the first and second level courts.

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Supreme Court Lauds Passage of RA No.

Since 2004, no other amendment to the jurisdictional amounts of the first-level

EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE LOWER COURTS.

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