Republic Act No. 843

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

Section 1. Sections eighty

two and eighty-three of Republic Act Numbered Two hundred and ninety-six, entitled "The Judiciary Act of 1948", are hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 82. Salaries of justices of the peace.—Except as provided in the next succeeding section, justices of the peace shall receive the following salaries per annum:

"(a) Of circuit courts, from three thousand two hundred forty to three thousand six hundred pesos each;

"(b) In municipalities of the first class, from three thousand to three thousand one hundred twenty pesos each;

"(c) In municipalities of the second class, from two thousand six hundred forty to two thousand eight hundred eighty pesos each;

"(d) In municipalities of third class, fourth class, and fifth class and municipal districts and other places not especially provided for by law, from two thousand four hundred to two thousand five hundred twenty pesos each;

"Provided, That the Secretary of Justice shall, with the approval of the President, fix the salary of each justice of the peace within the above limitations, taking into consideration, among other things, the number of cases docketed in his court and the accessibility and means of transportation available between the different municipalities under his jurisdiction: Provided, further, That when a justice of the peace is designated to act temporarily in one or more municipalities or districts in addition to his own municipality or district, he shall be entitled to the salary of his municipality or district, plus thirty per centum of the salary for each municipality or district in which he is temporarily designated to act.

"Section 83. Salaries of the judges of the municipal courts of chartered cities and of the justices of the peace in provincial capitals.—The annual salary of each of the judges of the municipal courts of the following chartered cities shall be:

"(a) Of the City of Manila, seven thousand two hundred pesos;

"(b) Of Quezon City, and the cities of Baguio, Cebu, Pasay and Iloilo, six thousand six hundred pesos;

"(c) Of the cities of Bacolod and San Pablo, four thousand eight hundred pesos;

"(d) Of the cities of Cavite, Davao, Ormoc, Dagupan, Lipa and Zamboanga, and of other cities, four thousand two hundred pesos.

"The annual salaries of the justices of the peace of the capitals of the provinces shall be as follows:

"Of the justices of the peace of the capitals of first class "A" provinces, four thousand eight hundred pesos each; of the justices of the peace of the capitals of first class "B" provinces, four thousand two hundred pesos each; of the justices of the peace of the capitals of first class provinces, three thousand nine hundred sixty pesos each; of the justices of the peace of the capitals of other provinces, three thousand three hundred sixty pesos each: Provided, however, That the judge of the municipal court of a city which is at the same time the capital of a province shall be considered as the justice of the peace of the capital of such province."

Section 2

Add a new section to be known as Sec. 98-A of Republic Act Numbered  Two hundred  ninety-six read as follows:

"Section 98-A. Vacation and sick leaves of judges of municipal courts and justices of the peace.—Judges of municipal courts and justices of the peace shall be entitled annually to fifteen days vacation and fifteen  days sick leaves  with   pay  which   they  shall   enjoy   in  accordance with a rotation plan to be laid by the Executive Judge of the Court of First Instance of the city or district to which said judge of the municipal court or justice of the peace pertains."

Section 3

Such sum as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 4

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, May 5, 1953.