MACABEBE -- The judicial process in Central Luzon is expected be enhanced after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law that creates additional branches for the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Third Judicial Region.

Republic Act (RA) 11349, which amended the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, approved on July 25, created three new RTC-3 branches to be stationed in this town along with existing Branch 54 and 55.

The law mandated the Supreme Court "to assign the respective and corresponding branch number for the new branches" and "immediately cause the inclusion of the new branches in its programs."

The funds necessary for the operation of the courts, meanwhile, will be appropriated and released upon the actual organization if the courts and the appointment of its personnel, the law added.

Fourth District Representative Juan Pablo "Rimpy" Bondoc, who sponsored the bill in the Congress, said that the new branches will help in handling the backlog of cases being catered by the RTC-3.

"The judiciary requested for supplementary branches and personally, seeing the cases being handled by our RTC, I concurred that additional judges and court rooms is really necessary," Bondoc said.

With the new judiciary branches, Bondoc said the service of justice to oppressed and victims of crimes will immediately be given.

RA 11349 was first passed as House Bill 492 in the House of Representatives on November 20,2017, amended by Senate on May 27,2019, and was concurred in the Lower House on May 29,2019.