REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9377, March 06, 2007

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9377, March 06, 2007 ]

AN ACT CREATING FOUR ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES AND TWO ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES WITH STATION AT THE CITY OF ANTIPOLO, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Section 14, paragraph (e) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the "Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 14. Regional Trial Courts. -

"x x x

"(e) One hundred Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial Region. There shall be:

"x x x.

"Eighteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Rizal, and Antipolo City, except the cities and municipalities embraced within the National Capital Judicial Region, with seats at Binangonan, San Mateo, Morong, Tanay, and Antipolo City; and

"x x x."

SEC. 2. Section 29 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the "Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

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

"x x x

"Four branches for Antipolo City;

"x x x."

SEC. 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice shall immediately include in the court's program the operationalization of four additional regional trial court branches and two additional municipal trial court branches for the Province of Rizal with station at the City of Antipolo, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. The Supreme Court shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act and if warranted, the realignment of the seats of existing branches and their territorial jurisdictions.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) MANNY VILLAR (Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR.

President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated by the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 8, 2006 and December 18, 2006.

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

Secretary of the Senate Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: March 6, 2007

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines