Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10339)
Republic Act No. 10339 creates five additional branches of the Regional Trial Court to be stationed at the City of Calamba and the municipalities of Los Baños and Cabuyao, all in the Province of Laguna, to improve judicial efficiency in the Fourth Judicial Region.
Five additional branches are created; three branches are stationed in the City of Calamba, and one branch each in the municipalities of Los Baños and Cabuyao in Laguna.
The Supreme Court is responsible for assigning the branch numbers of the newly created Regional Trial Court branches in the Fourth Judicial Region.
The Chief Justice, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include the operationalization of the five additional RTC branches in the Court's program, ensuring funding is included in the General Appropriations Act.
The funds necessary for the operation shall only be appropriated and released upon the actual organization of the courts and the appointment of their personnel.
The Supreme Court shall issue necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act and may realign the seats of existing branches and their territorial jurisdiction, if warranted.
RA No. 10339 amends Section 14, paragraph (e) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, to provide for the creation of new RTC branches and other related modifications.
The Act took effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation.
President Benigno S. Aquino III approved Republic Act No. 10339 on November 21, 2012.
The operationalization and funding of the new RTC branches must be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, and funds are released only upon actual organization and personnel appointment.