900 and counting: DPWH seen to flood regional courts with expropriation cases

Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) Secretary Mark Villar is set to file over 900 expropriation cases in various regional trial courts (RTCs), the Supreme Court Public Information Office (SCPIO) said.

The SCPIO pointed this out now that the SC has issued guidelines and appointed 11 RTCs courts that will handle expropriation cases over properties involving properties affected by national government road projects.

““The DPWH is expected to file an estimated 902 expropriation cases before the RTCs in relation to these projects,” the SCPIO said in a statement.

The SCPIO explained the high tribunal appointed the 11 RTCs and issued the guidelines after Villar “sought assistance of the Office of the chief Justice and the OCA (Office of the Court Administrator) for its on-going priority big-ticket projects.”

“With the designation of special courts to specifically handle expropriation cases as well as the issuance of the said Guidelines which provide for deadlines in court proceedings, it is expected that the expropriation cases filed before our courts will be resolved faster and swifter,” SC Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said in a statement.

“Thus, delays in the completion of the national government’s infrastructure projects will be negated,” he added.

The SCPIO said the Guidelines for Special Expropriation Court for Public Roads which was released last Jan. 19 states that “expropriation case shall strictly comply with the 2019 Proposed Amendments to the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedures where trial shall be terminated within one hundred eighty days from the initial presentation of evidence.”

“Judgement shall be rendered within ninety days from submission for decision unless otherwise provided by law or the Court,” the SCPIO added.

While, the 11 special RTCs which will hear, try, and decide expropriation cases involving national government infrastructure projects are located in the cities of Imus, Trece Martires, Dasmarinas, Tagaytay, Caloocan and Manila

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)