Republic Act No. 10703

AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT TO BE STATIONED IN THE CITY OF GUIHULNGAN, SITUATED IN THE PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL, IN THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”, AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. An additional branch of the Regional Trial Court to be stationed in the City of Guihulngan, situated in the Province of Negros Oriental is hereby created in the Seventh Judicial Region.

SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the branch number of the newly created branch of the Regional Trial Court in the Seventh Judicial Region.

SECTION 3. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Justice, shall immediately include in the Court’s program the operationalization of an additional branch of the Regional Trial Court to be stationed in the City of Guihulngan, Province of Negros Oriental, the funding of which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the court herein created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the court and the appointment of its personnel.

SECTION 4. Section 14(h) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended, and all other laws, executive orders, and rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

<table data-align="center" width="90%"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 50%" /> <col style="width: 50%" /> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr data-valign="top" data-align="center"> <td width="50%">(Sgd.) <strong>FRANKLIN M. DRILON</strong><br /> President of the Senate</td> <td width="50%">(Sgd.) <strong>FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.</strong><br /> Speaker of the House<br /> of Representatives</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was passed by the House of Representatives on June 9, 2014, amended by the Senate on July 28, 2015, and which amendments were concurred in by the House of Representatives on September 21, 2015.

<table data-align="center" width="90%"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 50%" /> <col style="width: 50%" /> </colgroup> <tbody> <tr data-valign="top" data-align="center"> <td width="50%">(Sgd.) <strong>OSCAR B. YABES</strong><br /> Secretary of the Senate</td> <td width="50%">(Sgd.) <strong>MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP</strong><br /> Secretary GeneralHouse of Representatives</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Approved: NOV 20 2015

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO, III President of the Philippines