INCREASE IN BRANCHES OF COURTS OF FIRST INSTANCE.
Section 1
SECTION 1. INCREASE IN BRANCHES OF COURTS OF FIRST INSTANCE.—Section 50 of the Judiciary Act of 1948 (Republic Act No. 296, as amended) is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 50. Judges of First Instance of Judicial Districts.—Sixteen judges shall be commissioned for the First Judicial District. Seven judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Provinces of Cagayan and Batanes and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh branches thereof; the judge of the second branch to preside also over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Batanes; "Five judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Isabela, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; and "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Quirino. "Twenty-eight judges shall be commissioned for the Second Judicial District. Six judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Ilocos Norte and the City of Laoag, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof; "Six judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Ilocos Sur, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof; "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Abra, and shall be known as of the first and second branches thereof; "Four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Benguet and the City of Baguio, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, and fourth branches thereof; "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of Mountain Province; "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Ifugao; "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Kalinga-Apayao, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof; and "Six judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of La Union, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof. "Seventeen judges shall be commissioned for the Third Judicial District. Fourteen judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Pangasinan and the Cities of Dagupan and San Carlos, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth branches thereof; and "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Zambales and the City of Olongapo, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof. "Thirteen judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial District. Nine judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Nueva Ecija and the Cities of Cabanatuan, Palayan and San Jose, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth branches thereof; and "Four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Tarlac, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof. "Twenty-four judges shall be commissioned for the Fifth Judicial District. Ten judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Pampanga and the City of Angeles, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Bataan, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; and "Eleven judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Bulacan, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh branches thereof. "Forty-five judges shall be commissioned for the Sixth Judicial District. They shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the City of Manila, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh, twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, thirty-first, thirty-second, thirty-third, thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, forty-second., forty-third, forty-fourth, and forty-fifth branches thereof. "Seventy-two judges shall be commissioned for the Seventh Judicial District. Sixty-two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Rizal and the Cities of Quezon, Pasay and Caloocan, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh, twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, thirtieth, thirty-first, thirty-second, thirty-third, thirty-fourth, thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, forty-second, forty-third, forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth., forty-seventh, forty-eighth, forty-ninth, fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second, fifty-third, fifty-fourth, fifty-fifth, fifty-sixth, fifty-seventh, fifty-eighth, fifty-ninth, sixtieth, sixty-first and sixty-second, branches thereof; "Six judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Cavite and the Cities of Cavite, Tataytay and Trece Martires, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof; and "Four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Palawan and the City of Puerto Princesa, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof. "Twenty-one judges shall be commissioned for the Eight Judicial District. Line judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Laguna and the City of San Pablo, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth branches thereof; "Eight judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Batangas and the Cities of Lipa and Batangas, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight branches thereof; "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Mindoro Oriental, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof; and "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Mindoro Occidental, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof. "Eleven judges shall be commissioned for the Ninth Judicial District. Ten judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Quezon and the City of Lucena, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth branches thereof; and "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Sub-province of Aurora. "Thirty-two judges shall be commissioned for the Tenth Judicial District. Ten judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Camarines Sur and the Cities of Naga and Iriga, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Camarines Norte, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; "Nine judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Albay and the City of Legaspi, and shall be known as judges of the first, second third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth branches thereof; Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Catandauanes, and shall be known as judges of the first and second, branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Sorsogon, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; and "Five judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Masbate, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth branches thereof. "Twenty-three judges shall be commissioned for the Eleventh Judicial District, Five judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Capiz and the City of Roxas, and shall be known as judges do the first, second, third, fourth and fifth branches therefore; "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Romblon; "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the province of Marinduque; "Four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Aklan, and shall be known as at the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof; "Ten judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Iloilo and the City of Iloilo, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth brandies thereof; and "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Antique, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof. "Twenty-one judges shall be commissioned for the Twelfth Judicial District, Twelve judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Occidental Ilocos and the Cities of Bacolod, Silay, San Carlos, La Carlota, Bago and Cadiz, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth branches thereof; "Eight Judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Oriental Negros and the Cities of Dumaguete, Canlaon and Bais, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth branches thereof; and "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Siquijor. "Twenty-one judges shall be commissioned for the thirteenth Judicial District. Four Judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Northern Samar, and shall be known as Judges of the first, second, and third, branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Samar and City of Calbayog, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Eastern Samar, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; "Nine judges shall preside over the Court of the First Instance of the Province of Leyte and the Cities of Tacloban, and Ormoc, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, and third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth branches thereof; and "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Southern Leyte, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof. "Twenty judges shall be commissioned for the Fourteenth Judicial District. Sixteen judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Cebu and the Cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Danao, Toledo and Lapu-Lapu, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth branches thereof; and "Four judges shall preside over the Court First Instance of the Province of Bohol and the City of Tagbilaran, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof. "Twenty-three judges shall be commissioned for the Fifteenth Judicial District. Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Surigao del Norte and the City of Surigao, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, and third branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Surigao del Sur, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof; "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Agusan del Norte and the City of Butuan, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof; "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Agusan del Sur; "Five judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Misamis Oriental and the Cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog, shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth branches thereof; "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Camiguin; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Bukidnon, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Lanao del Norte and the City of Iligan, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; and "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Lanao del Sur and the City of Marawi, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof. "Thirty-six judges shall be commissioned for the Sixteenth Judicial District. Six judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Davao del Sur and the City of Davao, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof; "Three Judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Davao del Norte, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Davao Oriental, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third "branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Maguindanao and the City of Cotabato, and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third, branches thereof; "Two Judges shall preside ever the Court of First Instance of the Province of North Cotabato, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof: "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Sultan Kudarat; "Two judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of South Cotabato and the City of General Santos, and shall be known as judges of the first and second branches thereof; "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Misamis Occidental and the Cities of Oroquieta, Ozamiz and Tangub, and shall be known, as judges of the first, second, and third branches thereof; "Five judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Zamboanga del Sur and the Cities of Zaraboanga and. Pagadian, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth branches thereof; "Four judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Zamboanga del Norte and the Cities of Dipolog; and Dapitan, and shall be known as judges of the first, second, third and fourth branches thereof; "One judge shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Province of Basilan; and "Three judges shall preside over the Court of First Instance of the Provinces of Sulu and shall be known as judges of the first, second and third branches thereof, the judge of the third branch to preside also over the Court of First Instance of Tawi-Tawi."