Republic Act No. 9307, enacted on August 2, 2004, establishes an additional Regional Trial Court branch in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, amending the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980. This law increases the total number of Regional Trial Court branches in Eastern Samar to six, enhancing judicial accessibility in the region. The Chief Justice, in coordination with the Department of Justice, is tasked with the court's operationalization, and funding will be provided in the annual General Appropriations Act. The act takes effect immediately upon approval.
August 2, 2004
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9307
AN ACT CREATING ONE ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH FOR THE PROVINCE OF EASTERN SAMAR, WITH STATION AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF BALANGIGA, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (I) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATIONACT OF 1980
SECTION 1. Section 14, paragraph (i) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"(i) Forty-two Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Eighth Judicial Region. There shall be:
"Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of Eastern Samar, with seats at Borongan, Guiuan, Dolores, Oras and Balangiga;
"Seventeen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Leyte, the Sub-province of Biliran and the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban, with seats at Tacloban City, Abuyog, Calubian, Ormoc City, Carigara, Baybay, Burauen, Naval, Palompon, Hilongos and Caibiran;
"Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of Northern Samar, with seats at Catarman, Laoang, Allen and Gamay; EHCaDS
"Four branches with seats thereat for the Province of Southern Leyte, with seats at Maasin, San Juan and Sogod; and
"Nine branches with seats thereat for the Province of Samar and the City of Calbayog, with seats at Catbalogan, Basey, Calbayog City, Calbiga, Tarangnan and Gandara." BenchStat
SECTION 2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice shall immediately include in its program the operationalization of the additional Regional Trial Court of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: August 2, 2004