Republic Act No. 11459

This Act shall be known as the "Judges-at-Large Act of 2019".

A new paragraph (n) is inserted in Section 14 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129,

otherwise known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980," and shall read

as follows:

• n

  One hundred (100) positions of Regional Trail Judges-at-Large

  are created. The duly appointed Regional Trial Judges-at-Large shall have no permanent

  salas and may be assigned by the Supreme Court as acting or assisting judges to

  any Regional Trial Court in the Philippines as public interest may require. The

  said Judges-at-Large are entitled to salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments,

  benefits, rank and title of a Regional Trial Judge. The Supreme Court shall determine

  the length of such temporary assignment: Provided, That the Judicial

  and Bar Council shall recommend to the President appointees to the Judges-at-Large

  positions, after the period of the temporary assignment, the Judicial and Bar

  Council shall recommend to the President the permanent sala to which the Judge-at-Large

  shall be appointed.

Section 15 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

• Section 15  Qualifications.

  No person shall be appointed Regional Trial Judge or Regional Trial Judge-at-Large

  unless that person is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least thirty-five

  (35) years of age, and, for at least ten (10) years, has been engaged in the practice

  of law in the Philippines or has held a public office in the Philippines requiring

  admission to the practice of law as an indispensable requisite.

A new section to be denominated as Section 25-A is hereby inserted after Section 25 of the same Act to read as follows:

• Section 25-A  Creation of Position for Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large.

  Fifty (50) positions of Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large shall duly appointed Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large shall

  have no permanent salas and may be assigned by the Supreme Court as acting or

  assisting judges to any first level court in the Philippines as public interest

  may require. They shall be entitled to the salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments,

  benefits, rank and title of a judge of a Municipal Trial Court in Cities. The

  Supreme Court shall determine the lenght of such temporary assignment: Provided,

  That the Judicial and Bar Council shall recommend to the President appointees

  to the Judges-at-Large positions. After the period of the temporary assignment,

  the Judicial and Bar Council shall recommend to the President the permanent sala

  to which the Judge-at-Large shall be appointed.

Section 26 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

• Section 26  Qualifications.

  No person shall be appointed judge of a Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal

  Trial Court, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, or a Municipal Trial Judge-at-Large

  unless that person is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least thirty

  (30) years of age, and, for at least five (5) years, have been engaged in the

  practice of law in the Philippines, or has held a public office in the Philippines

  requiring admission to the practice of law as an indispensable requisite.

Section 41 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

• Section 41  Salaries.

  Intermediate Appellate Justice, Regional Trial Judges, Regional Trial Judges-at-Large,

  Metropolitan Trial Judges, Municipal Trial Judges, Municipal Circuit Trial Judges,

  and Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large shall receive such compensation and allowances

  as may be authorized by the President along the guidelines set forth in Letter

  of Implementation No. 93 pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 985, as amended by

  Presidential Decree No. 1597.

Section 42 of the same Act shall read as follows:

• Section 42  Longevity pay.

  A monthly longevity pay equivalent to five percent (5%) of the monthly

  basic pay shall be paid to the Justices and Judges of the courts herein created

  for each five (5) years of continuous, efficient, and meritorious service rendered

  in the Judiciary: Provided, That in no case shall the total salary of

  each Justice or Judge concerned, after this longevity pay is added, exceed the

  salary of the Justice or Judge next in rank.

The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be charged against the available appropriations of the Judiciary under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act, the Supreme Court, in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in

the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.