AN ACT CREATING ONE ADDITIONAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH FOR THE PROVINCE OF EASTERN SAMAR

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of 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

- Amends Section 14, paragraph (i) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as amended, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980. (Section 1)
• Increases the number of Regional Trial Judges commissioned for the Eighth Judicial Region from 41 to 42.
• Establishes an additional Regional Trial Court branch for the Province of Eastern Samar, with its seat at the Municipality of Balangiga. (Section 1)
• The Eighth Judicial Region now has the following distribution of Regional Trial Court branches:
    - 6 branches for the Province of Eastern Samar, with seats at Borongan, Guiuan, Dolores, Oras, and Balangiga. (Section 1)
    - 17 branches 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. (Section 1)
    - 6 branches for the Province of Northern Samar, with seats at Catarman, Laoang, Allen, and Gamay. (Section 1)
    - 4 branches for the Province of Southern Leyte, with seats at Maasin, San Juan, and Sogod. (Section 1)
    - 9 branches for the Province of Samar and the City of Calbayog, with seats at Catbalogan, Basey, Calbayog City, Calbiga, Tarangnan, and Gandara. (Section 1)
- The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include the operationalization of the additional Regional Trial Court of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, in its program. (Section 2)
- The funding for the additional Regional Trial Court shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. (Section 2)
- The Act shall take effect upon its approval. (Section 3)