CIRCULAR NO.

21-99 April 15, 1999

TO: ALL JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURTS, THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL
COURTS, THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN
CITIES, THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS AND
THE MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS.
SUBJECT: EFFECTIVITY OF PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 5 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7691 FURTHER
INCREASING THE JURISDICTIONAL AMOUNTS
PRESCRIBED BY CERTAIN PROVISIONS
OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS
AMENDED.
The provisions of Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7961
prescribe that "After five years (5) from the effectivity of this
Act, the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in Sec.
19(3), 1 (4), 2 and (8), 3 and Sec. 33(1), 4 of Batas Pambansa
Blg. 129 as amended by this Act, shall be adjusted to Two
hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00). Five (5) years
thereafter, such jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted
further to Three hundred thousand pesos
(P300,000.00): Provided, However, That in the case of
Metro Manila, the abovementioned jurisdictional amounts
shall be adjusted after five (5) years from the effectivity of
this Act to Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00)."
Section 8 of the same law states that "This Act shall take
effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official
Gazette or in two (2) national newspaper of general
circulation."
Republic Act No. 7691 was published simultaneously in the
30 March 1994 issues of the Philippine Journal and Malaya.
The law took effect on 15 April 1994.
Considering the provisions of Section 31, 5 Chapter 8, Book
I of the 1987 Administrative Code, Section 5 of R.A. No.
7691 took effect on 20 March 1999.
For information and guidance.
(Sgd.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYO
Court Administrator