Supreme Court Inaugurates Six New Courtrooms in Bacoor, Including Deaf-Friendly’ Court

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda (fourth from left) and Jose Midas P. Marquez (second from right) attend the inauguration of new courtrooms for Branches 114 to 119 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), City of Bacoor, at the Main Square Mall, Bacoor City, Cavite, on March 13, 2025. They are joined by (from left) Deputy Court Administrator Leo Tolentino Madrazo, Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, RTC Bacoor Executive Judge Amalia Gumapos-Ricablanca, and SC Spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae L. Ting. Also in photo are Bacoor City Mayor Strike B. Revilla and judges of the City of Bacoor courts. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)

BACOOR CITY, Cavite — The Supreme Court (SC) has inaugurated six new courtrooms for regional trial courts (RTCs) in Bacoor City, including one designed as a “deaf-friendly” court.

Located in Main Square Mall in Barangay Bayanan, the new courtrooms will house RTC Branches 114 to 119. Among them, Branch 115, presided over by Judge Charisma I. Nolasco, is equipped to accommodate deaf litigants. The SC said Judge Nolasco’s court staff have undergone basic sign language training to improve communication with hearing-impaired individuals.

The inauguration ceremony was led by SC Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda and Jose Midas P. Marquez. In his speech, Justice Zalameda underscored the Judiciary’s commitment to accessibility and efficiency, emphasizing that “having the proper facility for our trial courts improves court efficiency and prevents delayed proceedings.”

The SC’s Office of the Spokesperson highlighted that the establishment of a deaf-friendly courtroom aligns with the court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), which aims to promote equal and inclusive justice for all, including persons with disabilities.

Also present at the event were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Deputy Court Administrator Leo Tolentino Madrazo, SC Spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae L. Ting, Bacoor RTC Executive Judge Amalia Gumapos-Ricablanca, and other judges and court personnel. Local officials, including Bacoor City Mayor Strike B. Revilla and Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Miguel Gudio Jr., also attended the ceremony.

Efforts to enhance accessibility in the justice system have been ongoing since 2004, when the SC authorized trial courts to hire sign language interpreters for hearings. The initiative was further strengthened through OCA Circular No. 104-2007 and later expanded in 2022 to allow deaf and mute witnesses and litigants to participate in court proceedings via videoconferencing.

The opening of these new courtrooms marks another step toward ensuring a more inclusive and efficient judiciary in the country./PR