Question

Duty to Render Judgment (Civil Code, Art. 9)

Scenario:

1. Mr. Santos filed a complaint for damages against Mr. Reyes arising from a car accident. The case was heard before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) and after several hearings, the RTC issued a decision in favor of Mr. Santos, ordering Mr. Reyes to pay damages. However, the decision did not indicate the specific amount of damages to be paid. Mr. Reyes believes that the decision is invalid due to this omission.
2. Ms. Garcia filed a case against her neighbor, Mr. Cruz, for the disturbance caused by his loud parties every night. The case was lodged before the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) and after hearing the parties, the MeTC dismissed the case on the grounds of lack of sufficient evidence. Ms. Garcia is dissatisfied with the decision and wants to appeal to a higher court.

Question:

Based on the given scenarios, what is the duty of the trial courts in rendering judgment? Discuss any applicable legal provisions.