REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9276, March 26, 2004

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9276, March 26, 2004 ]

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9276 AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 29 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 29 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 29. Municipal Trial Courts in Cities. - In every city which does not form part of metropolitan area, there shall be a Municipal Trial Court with one branch, except as hereunder provided:

Two branches for Laoag City; Four branches for Baguio City; Three branches for Dagupan City; Five branches for Olongapo City; Three branches for Cabanatuan City; Two branches for San Jose City; Three branches for Angeles City; Two branches for Cavite City; Two branches for Batangas City; Three branches for Lipa City; Two branches for Lucena City; Three branches for Naga City; Two branches for Iriga City; Three branches for Legaspi City; Two branches for Roxas City; Four branches for Iloilo City; Seven branches for Bacolod City; Two branches for Dumaguete City; Two branches for Tacloban City; Eight branches for Cebu City; Three branches for Mandaue City; Two branches for Tagbilaran City; Two branches for Surigao City; Two branches for Butuan City; Five branches for Cagayan de Oro City; Seven branches for Davao City; Three branches for General Santos City; Two branches for Oroquieta City; Three branches for Ozamis City; Two branches for Dipolog City; Four branches for Zamboanga City; Two branches for Pagadian City; and Two branches for Iligan City."

SEC. 2. The two (2) additional Municipal Trial Courts shall be known as the "Municipal Trial Courts of Lipa City" which shall be located in Lipa City Province of Batangas.

SEC. 3. 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 municipal trial courts of Lipa City, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,

(Sgd.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON (Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR.

President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on January 26, 2004 and January 12, 2004, respectively.

(Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES (Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO

Secretary of the Senate Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: MAR 26 2004

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO President of the Philippines