[ Commonwealth Act No. 545, May 26, 1940 ]

AN ACT AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TO INC3EASE THE NUMBER OF JUDGES OF FIRST INSTANCE, TO REGROUP SOME OF THE PROVINCES FOR JUDICIAL PURPOSES, AND APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY RINDS THEREFOR.

Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines:SECTION. 1. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth paragraphs of'section one hundred and-fifty-four of the Administrative Code, as amended by Commonwealth Acts Numbered One kindred and forty-five and Three hundred and forty-eight, are further amended so as to read as follows:

"Seven judges shall be commissioned for the Third Judicial District. Two judges-shall preside over-the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Nueva Ecija; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Pampanga; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Tarlae; and two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Bulacan."Eleven judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial District. Nine judges, with residence in the City of Manila, and who shall be known as judges of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Hrancbes, respectively, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Manila and Palawan, and two judges shall preside, over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Rizal."Seven judges shallbe commissioned for the Fifth Judicial District. Iwo judges, with permanent residence in Tayabas, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Provinces of layabas and Marinduque; Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside.in, the Province of Cavite; two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Laguna, and another judge, with residence in the Province of Batangas, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Batangas and Mindoro."Five judges shall be commissioned for the Sixth Judicial District, two shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Camarines Sur; one judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of, and reside in, the Province of Camarines Norte; one judge, with residence in the Province of Albay, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Albay and Catanduanes; and another, with residence in the Province of Sorsogon, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Sorsogon and Masbate."Five judges shall be commissioned for the Ninth Judicial District. One judge, with residence in the Province of Zamboan.ga, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of the Provinces, of Zamboanga and Sulu; one judge, with residence in the Province of Ea.vao shall preside over the Court of First Instance.of the Province of Eavaot; one judge, with residence in the Province of Oriental Misamis, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Oriental Misamis, Occidental Misamis and Eukidnon; one judge, with residence in the Province of Cotabato, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Cntabato and Lanao; and another judge, with residence in the Province of Surigao, shall preside over the Courts of First Instance of Surigao and Agusan.

SEC. 2. The tenth paragraph of section one hundred and sixty-one of the Administrative Code, as amended by Commonwealth Acts urnbered One hundred and forty-five and Three hundred and forty-eight, is further amended so as tn read as follow:

"In the Ninth district At Oroquieta, Province of Occidental Misamis on the first Tuesday of December and June of each year; at Cantilan, Province of Surigao, on the second Tuesday of August of each year; at Butuan, Province of Agusan, on the-first Tuesday of March and October of each year; a special terrr of court shall also be held once a year in either the municipality of Tandag or the municipality of Hinaturan, Provirice of Surigao, in the discretion of the district judge; at Mambajao, Province" of Oriental Misamis, on the first Tuesday of March of each year; at Malayhalay, Province of Bukidnon, on ¦the first Tuesday of December of each year. A special terra of court shall also be held once a year eitheriin the municipality of Talisayan or in the municipality of Gingoog, Province of Oriental Misa,mis, in the discretion of the district judge; atilligan, province of Lanao, on the first Tuesday of March and September of each year, but the September term for the Province of Lanao may be held at Dansalan, Province of Laneo, in the discretion of the district judge; at.Eipolog, Province of Zarnboanga, on the first Tuesday of January and June oeach year; at Jolo, Province of Sulu, on the first Tuesday of March and October of each year. The o.ffice of the clerk of Court of First Instance of Dapi.tan, province of Zamboanga, is hereby transferred to Dipolog, same province. At Glan, Province of Cotabato, and at Baganga and Mati, Province of Cavao, terms of court shall be held at least once a year on the dates to be fixed by the district judge. "

SEC. 3. There is appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be necessary, forthe payment of the salaries of the additional judges herein provided, and the necessary personnel of their respective courts,¦for¦the purchase of supplies and equipment, and for travel ing and other sundry expenses.Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.Approved, May 26, 1940.

Source: Supreme Court E-Library