SUBJECT:  DELEGATED JURISDICTION OF MTC's AND MCTC's TO HEAR AND DETERMINE CADASTRAL AND LAND REGISTRATION CASES.

Pursuant to Sec. 34 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended by R. A. 76791 which took effect 14 April 1995, and the Reslution of the Court En Banc in Adm. Matter No. 93-3-488-0 dated 25 March 1993 [Re: Request of DENR for Metropolitan and Municipal Trial Courts to hear cadastral and land registration cases under Sec. 34, B. P. Blg. 129], the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts to hear cadastral and land registration cases involving uncontested lots and contested lots, the value of which does not exceeed One Hundred Thousand Pesos [P100,000.00] as may be ascertained by affidavit of the claimants or by their agreement or from the corresponding tax declarations: Provided, That:

[1] Cadastral or land registration cases filed before the effectivity of this Administrative Circulars but where hearing has not yet commenced shall be transferred by the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction over the case to the Executive Judge of the appropriate Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Municipal Trial Court or Municipal Circuit Trial Court for the required raffle among the branches of the Courts under his administrative supervision; and

[2] Cadastral or land registration cases pending in the Regional Trial Courts where trial had already been commenced as of the date of the effectivity of this Administrative Circular shall remain with said courts. However, by agreement of the parties, these cases may be transferred to the appropriate Metropolitan Trial Court or Municipal Trial Courts.

This Administrative Circular shall take effect immediately. However, the Clerk of Court is directed to cause its publication in a newspaper of general circulation for the information of the public.