Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9373)
Republic Act No. 9373 is titled "An Act Creating Two Additional Regional Trial Court Branches in the Province of Leyte to be Stationed in the City of Tacloban, Amending for the Purpose Section 14, Paragraph (I) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Otherwise Known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, as Amended, and Appropriating Funds Therefor."
RA No. 9373 amends Section 14, paragraph (i) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980.
According to the amended law, forty-three Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Eighth Judicial Region.
The areas with Regional Trial Court branches include the Province of Leyte, Province of Biliran, and the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban. Specific seats include Tacloban City, Abuyog, Calubian, Ormoc City, Carigara, Baybay, Burauen, Naval, Palompon, Hilongos, and Caibiran.
Two additional Regional Trial Court branches are created in the City of Tacloban by this Act.
The Supreme Court is tasked with assigning the two additional branches of the Regional Trial Court in the City of Tacloban in accordance with the Act.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, is responsible for including the operationalization of the additional Regional Trial Court branches in the annual program and budget.
The funding for the operationalization of the additional Regional Trial Court branches shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Republic Act No. 9373 took effect upon its approval, which was on March 6, 2007.
Republic Act No. 9373 was signed into law by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.