Add Two RTC Branches in Tacloban, Leyte

Section 1 amends Section 14, paragraph (i) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 (the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980).
The amendment modifies the allocation of Regional Trial Court branches within the Eighth Judicial Region.

Section 1 provides that Forty-three Regional Trial Judges are to be commissioned for the Eighth Judicial Region.
Section 1 establishes that there shall be 19 branches with seats for the Province of Leyte, Province of Biliran, and the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.
Section 1 fixes the seats at Tacloban City, Abuyog, Calubian, Ormoc City, Carigara, Baybay, Burauen, Naval, Palompon, Hilongos, and Caibiran.

Republic Act No. 9373 creates two additional Regional Trial Court branches.
The two additional branches are to be stationed in the City of Tacloban, Province of Leyte.
Section 1 incorporates the branch arrangement through the amendment to Section 14 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129.

Section 2 directs the Supreme Court to assign the two additional branches in the City of Tacloban, Province of Leyte.
Section 2 requires the Supreme Court to make the assignment in accordance with the Act.

Section 3 requires the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, to immediately include the operationalization of the additional branches in the court’s program.
Section 3 requires the operationalization to cover the additional Regional Trial Court branches stationed at the City of Tacloban.
Section 3 mandates that the operationalization’s funding shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Republic Act No. 9373 contains no repealing clause, separability clause, or sunset provision.