Regional Districts, Stations; Residences of Judges.
Section 2
SEC. 2. Regional Districts, Stations; Residences of Judges.—The Districts of the Courts of Agrarian Relations shall be the same as those of the Courts of First Instance. The stations of the respective Courts shall be determined by the Supreme Court, except that the Executive Judge shall have his Station in Metropolitan Manila, without Prejudice to his holding court in any District where the exigencies of the service so require. Until otherwise provided by the Supreme Court, the branches (salas) of the Courts shall be stationed as follows : First Regional District: Branch I—Tuguegarao, Cagayan; Branch II—Ilagan, Isabela; Branch III—Santiago, Isabela; Branch IV—Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; and Branch V—Cabarroguis, Quirino; Second Regional District: Branch I—Laoag City; Branch II—San Fernando, La Union; and Branch III— Tabuk, Kalinga-Apayao; Third Regional District: Branch I—Lingayen, Pangasinan; Branch II—Urdaneta, Pangasinan; Branch III— Tayug, Pangasinan; and Branch IV—Iba, Zambales; Fourth Regional District: Branch I—Cabanatuan City; Branch II—Guimba, Nueva Ecija; Branch III—San Jose City; Branch IV—Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Branch V—Tarlac, Tarlac; and Branch VI—Paniqui, Tarlac; Fifth Regional District: Branch I—San Fernando, Pampanga; Branch II—Angeles City; Branch III—Guagua, Pampanga; Branch IV—Balanga, Bataan; Branch V—Malolos, Bulacan; and Branch VI-Baliuag, Bulacan; Sixth Regional District: Branch I—Metropolitan Manila (Sala of the Executive Judge); Seventh Regional District: Branch I—Pasig, Rizal; Branch II—Cavite City; and Branch III—Puerto Princesa City; Eight Regional District: Branch I—Calamba, Laguna; Branch II—San Pablo City; Branch III—Lipa City; Branch IV—San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; and Branch V—Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Ninth Regional District: Branch I—Lucena City; Branch II—Gumaca, Quezon; and Branch III—Baler, Quezon; Tenth Regional District: Branch I—Daet, Camarines Norte; Branch II—Naga City; Branch III—Legaspi City; and Branch IV—Sorsogon, Sorsogon; Eleventh Regional District: Branch I—Iloilo City; Branch II—San Jose, Antique; Branch III—Roxas City; and Branch IV—Kalibo, Aklan; Twelfth Regional District: Branches I and II—Bacolod City; Branch III—San Carlos City; and Branch IV—Dumaguete City; Thirteenth Regional District: Branch I—Ormoc City; Branch II—Tacloban, Leyte; and Branch III—Catarman, Northern Samar; Fourteenth Regional District: Branch I—Cebu City; Fifteenth Regional District: Branch I—Butuan City; Branch II—Surigao City; and Branch III—Tandag, Surigao del Sur; and Sixteenth Regional District: Branch I—Davao City; Branch II—Cotabato City; Branch III—Ozamis City; Branch IV—Pagadian City; Branch V—Cagayan de Oro City; and Branch VI—Iligan City. In the interest of justice, the Supreme Court may transfer stations within the District and establish new Branches (salas). Every Judge shall reside within a distance of not more than fifty (39) kilometers by the most direct transportation route from his official station. SEC. 3. Judges of the Courts of Agrarian Relations.— The functions of the Courts of Agrarian Relations shall be vested in an Executive Judge and the District Judges. They shall be appointed by the President of the Philip pines; Provided, however, That the incumbent Executive judge and District Judges at the time of the effectivity of this Decree shall continue as Judges without need of new appointments. Upon the effectivity of this Decree, the said Executive Judge shall continue to exercise the administrative functions over the Courts of Agrarian Relations except as otherwise herein provided. In the event that the Executive Judge is incapacitated to discharge his duties, temporarily or otherwise, the Chief Justice shall designate an Acting Executive Judge from among the District Judges of the Courts of Agrarian Relations.