Republic Act No. 7154

Section 14, paragraph (a), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• a

  Seventy Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the First Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Three branches with seats thereat for the Province of Abra, with seats at Bangued and Bucay;

  • Fourteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Benguet and the City of Baguio, with seats at Baguio City, La Trinidad, and Buguias;

  • Ten branches with seats thereat for the Province of Ilocos Norte and the City of Laoag, with seats at Laoag City, Batac, and Bangui;

  • Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of Ilocos Sur, with seats at Vigan, Narvacan, Cabigao and Tagudin;

  • Eleven branches with seats thereat for the Province of La Union, with seats at San Fernando, Agoo, Bauang, and Balaoan;

  • Two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Mountain Province, with seats at Bontoc; and

  • Twenty-four branches with seats thereat for the Province of Pangasinan and theCities of Dagupan and San Carlos, with seats at Lingayen, Dagupan City, Urdaneta, Villasis, Tayug, Rosales, Alaminos, Burgos, and San Carlos City.

Section 14, paragraph (b), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• b

  Thirty-eight Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Second Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Thirteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Cagayan, with seats at Tuguegarao, Aparri, Tuao, Sanchez Mira, and Ballesteros;

  • One branch for the Province of Batanes, with seat at Basco;

  • Three branches with seats thereat for the Province of Ifugao, with seats at Lagawe, Alfonso Lista, and Banaue;

  • Eleven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Isabela, with seats at Ilagan, Cauayan, Santiago, Cabagan, Roxas, and Echague;

  • Two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Kalinga-Apayao, with seats at Tabuk and Luna;

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Nueva Vizcaya, with seats at Bayombong and Bambang; and

  • Three branches with seats thereat for the Province of Quirino, with seats at Cabarroguis and Maddela.

Section 14, paragraph (c), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• c

  Eighty-nine Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Third Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Bataan, with seats at Balanga, Mariveles, and Dinalupihan;

  • Twenty-seven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Bulacan (except the Municipality of Valenzuela), with seats at Malolos;

  • Twenty-two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Nueva Ecija and the Cities of Cabanatuan, San Jose and Palayan, with seats at Cabanatuan City, Guimba, Gapan, Sto. Domingo, San Jose City, and Palayan City;

  • Twenty-two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Pampanga and the City of Angeles, with seats at San Fernando, Guagua, Macabebe, and Angeles City;

  • Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of Tarlac, with seats at Tarlac, Capas, Paniqui, and Camiling; and

  • Seven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Zambales and the City of Olongapo, with seats at Iba and Olongapo City.'

Section 14, paragraph (d), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• d

  Two hundred seventy-six Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the National Capital Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Ninety-seven branches for the City of Manila, with seats thereat;

  • Forty-eight branches for Quezon City, with seats thereat;

  • Thirteen branches for Pasay City, with seats thereat;

  • Thirteen branches for Caloocan City, with seats thereat:

  • One hundred two branches for the Municipalities of Navotas, Malabon, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Marikina, Para\xF1aque, Las Pi\xF1\ as, and Muntinlupa; with fifty-eight seated in Makati, thirty-four seated in Pasig, two seated in Marikina, five in Malabon, one in Para\xF1aque, one in Las Pi\xF1\ as, and one in Muntinlupa; and

  • Three branches for the Municipality of Valenzuela, with seats thereat.

Section 14, paragraph (e), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• e

  Ninety-six Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Nineteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Batangas and the Cities of Lipa and Batangas, with seats at Batangas City, Lemery, Taal, Tanauan, Balayan, Lipa City, Nasugbu, and Rosario;

  • Twelve branches with seats thereat for the Province of Cavite and the Cities of Cavite, Tagaytay and Trece Martires, with seats at Naic, Cavite City, Tagaytay City, Bacoor, Imus, Trece Martires City, and Dasmari\xF1as;

  • Seventeen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Laguna and the City of San Pablo, with seats at Bi\xF1an, San Pedro, Sta. Cruz, San Pablo City, Siniloan, and Calamba;

  • Two branches for the Province of Marinduque, with seats at Boac;

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Mindoro Oriental, with seats at Calapan, Pinamalayan, and Roxas;

  • Three branches with seats thereat for the Province of Mindoro Occidental, with seats at Mamburao and San Jose

  • Seven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa, with seats at Puerto Princesa City, Roxas, Brooke's Point, and Coron;

  • Thirteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Quezon and the City of Lucena, with seats at Lucena City, Gumaca, Calauag, Mauban, and Infanta;

  • Two branches for the Province of Aurora, with seats at Baler;

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

  • Two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Romblon, with seats at Romblon and Odiongan.\""

Section 14, paragraph (f), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known

as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• f

  Sixty-five Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Fifth Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Eighteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Albay and the City of Legaspi, with seats at Legaspi City, Ligao, and Tabaco;

  • Twenty-seven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Camarines Sur and the Cities of Naga and Iriga, with seats at Naga City, Libmanan, Tigaon, San Jose, Pili, Iriga City, Buhi, Nabua, Sipocot, Ragay, and Calabanga;

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Camarines Norte, with seats at Daet and Labo;

  • Two branches for the Province of Catanduanes, with seats at Virac;

  • Seven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Masbate, with seats at Masbate, Claveria, Cataingan, and San Jacinto; and

  • Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of Sorsogon, with seats at Sorsogon, Gubat, Irosin, and Bulan.

Section 14, paragraph (g), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• g

  Sixty-nine Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Sixth Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Nine branches with seats thereat for the Province of Aklan, with seats at Kalibo;

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Antique, with seats at San Jose, Culasi, and Bugasong;

  • Eight branches with seats thereat for the Province of Capiz and the City of Roxas, with seats at Roxas City and Mambusao;

  • Twenty-two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Iloilo, the Sub-province of Guimaras, and the City of Iloilo, with seats at Iloilo City, Barotac Viejo, Guimbal, and Dumangas; and

  • Twenty-five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Negros Occidental and the Cities of Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, La Carlota, San Carlos and Silay, with seats at Silay City, Bacolod City, Himamaylan, San Carlos City, Cadiz City, Kabankalan, Bago City, La Carlota City, and Sipalay.

Section 14, paragraph (h), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• h

  Sixty-four Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Seventh Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Ten branches with seats thereat for the Province of Bohol and the City of Tagbilaran, with seats at Tagbilaran City, Carmen, Talibon, and Loay;

  • Thirty-five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Cebu and the Cities of Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Toledo, with seats at Cebu City, Danao City, Argao, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Toledo City, Barili, Bogo, and Oslob;

  • Eighteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Negros Oriental and the Cities of Dumaguete, Bais and Canlaon, with seats at Dumaguete City, Bayawan, Guihulngan, Bais City, Tanjay; and

  • One branch for the Province of Siquijor, with seats at Siquijor.

Section 14, paragraph (i), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• i

  Forty-one Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Eighth Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Eastern Samar, with seats at Borongan, Guiuan, Dolores, and Oras;

  • 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;

  • 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."'

Section 14, paragraph (j), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• j

  Thirty Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Ninth Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Two branches for the Province of Basilan, with seats at Isabela;

  • Three branches with seats thereat for the Province of Sulu, with seats at Jolo, Parang, and Siasi;

  • Two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Tawi-Tawi with seats at Bongao and Sapa-Sapa;

  • Eight branches with seats thereat for the Province of Zamboanga del Norte and the Cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, with seats at Dipolog City, Sindangan, Siocon, and Liloy; and

  • Fifteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Zamboanga del Sur and the Cities of Pagadian and Zamboanga, with seats at Zamboanga City, Pagadian City, Molave, San Miguel, Ipil, and Aurora.

Section 14, paragraph (k), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• k

  Forty-four Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Tenth Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Seven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Agusan del Norte and the City of Butuan, with seats at Butuan City and Cabadbaran;

  • Two branches with seats thereat for the Province of Agusan del Sur, with seats at Prosperidad and Bayugan;

  • Four branches with seats thereat for the Province of Bukidnon, with seats at Malaybalay, Don Carlos, and Manolo Fortich;

  • Seven branches with seats thereat for the Province of Misamis Occidental and the Cities of Oroquieta, Ozamiz and Tangub, with seats at Oroquieta City, Calamba, Ozamiz City, and Tangub City;

  • Nineteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Misamis Oriental and the Cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog, with seats at Cagayan de Oro City, Medina, Gingoog City, and Initao;

  • One branch for the Province of Camiguin, with seat at Mambajao; and

  • Four branches with seats thereat for the Province of Surigao del Norte and the City of Surigao, with seats at Surigao City, Dapa, and Dinagat, Dinagat Island."'

Section 14, paragraph (l), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known

as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• l

  Forty-one Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Eleventh Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of Davao del Norte, with seats at Tagum, Nabunturan, and Panabo;

  • Four branches with seats thereat for the Province of Davao Oriental, with seats at Mati, Baganga, and Lupon;

  • Sixteen branches with seats thereat for the Province of Davao del Sur and the City of Davao, with seats at Davao City, Digos, Malita, and Bansalan;

  • Ten branches with seats thereat for the Province of South Cotabato and the City of General Santos, with seats at General Santos City, Koronadal, Surallah, Alabel, and Polomolok; and

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Surigao del Sur, with seats at Tandag, Lianga, Bislig, and Cantilan.

Section 14, paragraph (m), of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known

as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1981, is hereby amended to read as follows:

• m

  Twenty-five Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Twelfth Judicial Region. There shall be:

  • Eight branches with seats thereat for the Province of Lanao del Norte and the City of Iligan, with seats at Iligan City, Kapatagan, and Tubod;

  • Five branches with seats thereat for the Province of Lanao del Sur and the City of Marawi, with seats at Marawi City and Malabang;

  • Three branches with seats thereat for the Province of Maguindanao and the City of Cotabato, with seats at Cotabato City and Maganoy;

  • Six branches with seats thereat for the Province of North Cotabato, with seats at Kabacan, Kidapawan, and Midsayap; and

  • Three branches with seats thereat for the Province of Sultan Kudarat, with seats at Isulan, Tacurong, and Kalamansig.

The Supreme Court shall effect the renumbering of the Regional Trial Courts

from the Roman numeral system to Arabic numeral system. It shall also reorder

the numbering of all the Regional Trial Courts all over the country in accordance

with the allocations of seats provided herein.

The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act on priority

basis as determined by the Supreme Court is hereby authorized to be included in

the appropriations of the Supreme Court in the annual General Appropriations Act

of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter: Provided, That, to

effectively implement this Act, the Supreme Court is hereby vested with the power

to prioritize or to determine which sala or salas shall be established for a given

year: Provided, further, That, for reasons of efficiency, economy and accessibility,

the Supreme Court is hereby authorized to transfer a sala from one station, as

determined herein, to another within the same Judicial Region; Provided, finally,

That the Supreme Court shall not effect the transfer of a sala oftener than once

every three (3) years.

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.