AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL SHARI'A JUDICIAL DISTRICTS AND TWELVE (12) SHARI'A CIRCUIT COURTS THEREIN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12018, August 12, 2024 ]

AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONAL SHARI'A JUDICIAL DISTRICTS AND TWELVE (12) SHARI'A CIRCUIT COURTS THEREIN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 138, 147, AND 150 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1083, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CODE OF MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS OF THE PHILIPPINES", AS AMENDED, AND THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980", AS AMENDED

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

Section 1. Article 138 of Presidential Decree No. 1083, otherwise known as the "Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines", is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Article 138, Shari'a judicial districts. - Eight special judicial districts, each to have one Shari'a District Court president over by one judge, are constituted as follows:

Section 2. Article 147 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby amended as follows:

"Article 147. Permanent stations; offices. - (1) The Shari'a District Courts shall have their respective permanent stations in the following places:

Section 3. Article 150 of Presidential Decree No. 1083 is hereby amended as follows:

"Article 150. Where established. - (1) Shari'a Circuit Courts shall be established as follows:

Section 4. The staffing pattern for each new Shari'a District Court shall be composed of twelve (12) personnel, specifically: one (1) Shari'a District Court judge, one (1) clerk of court, one (1) court legal researchers, one (1) interpreter, three (3) court stenographers, one (1) sheriff, two (2) clerks, one (1) process server, and one (1) utility worker.

Each Shari'a Circuit Court shall be composed of nine (9) personnel, specifically: one (1) Shari'a Circuit Court judge, one (1) clerk of court, one (1) interpreter, three (3) court stenographers, one (1) clerk, one (1) junior process server, and one (1) utility worker.

Section 5. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall immediately include in the Court's program the operationalization of the newly created Shari'a Judicial Districts, Shari'a District Courts, and Shari'a Circuit Courts.

Section 6. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act, including appropriations for personnel services such as salaries benefits and emoluments for judges and court personnel, court operations under Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), and provision for hall of justice or courtrooms to accommodate judges and court staff, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 7. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. - The relevant provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as amended, and Presidential Decree No. 1083, otherwise known as the "Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines", as amended, and all other laws, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.

Section 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2594 and House Bill No. 8257, was passed by the Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives on May 21, 2024 and May 22, 2024, respectively.

Approved: AUG 12 2024

(SGD.) FERDINAND ROMUALDEZ MARCOS JR.
President of the Philippines