SECTION 1. Two (2) additional Regional Trial Court branches for Polomolok, South Cotabato, with seats thereat, are hereby created in the Eleventh Judicial Region.

SEC. 2. The Supreme Court shall assign the respective branch numbers for the newly created branches.

SEC. 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 implementation of this Act. The funding therefor shall likewise be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The funds necessary for the operation of the courts herein created shall be appropriated and released only upon the actual organization of the courts and the appointment of its personnel.

SEC. 4. Section 14(l) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as “The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980”, as amended, as well as other provisions that may be inconsistent herewith, is hereby deemed repealed, modified and/or further amended.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3020 and House Bill No. 6743 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on October 15, 2012 and June 5, 2013, respectively.

Approved:   AUG 22 2013

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