Marcos signs laws for new courts, protected areas

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has signed several laws creating trial court branches and declaring protected areas and local holidays in various provinces.

Five of the laws enacted on Aug. 29 mandated the creation of six new regional and two metropolitan trial courts in Cebu, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Isabela.

Republic Acts (RA) 12241, 12242 and 12243 provide for the creation of regional trial courts (RTC) in Moalboal in Cebu, Alicia in Isabela and Mati in Davao Oriental, respectively.

RA 12244 mandates the establishment of two metropolitan trial courts in Tagum, Davao del Norte, while RA 12245 the creation of two RTCs in Ilagan City and Tumauini in Isabela.

The Supreme Court will assign branch numbers and issue implementing rules and regulations for the new courts.

Marcos also signed two laws declaring protected areas in Tarlac and Southern Leyte.

A parcel of land straddling the towns of Mayantoc and San Jose in Tarlac has been declared a protected area through RA 12237. The area will be referred to as the Mt. Sawtooth Protected Landscape.

Meanwhile, RA 12238 declared the waters surrounding Panaon Island in Southern Leyte a protected seascape, to be known as the Panaon Island Protected Seascape.

The laws require the creation of the protected area management board to be led by the regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with representatives from the provincial government and various concerned offices as members.

Laws declaring special working and non-working holidays in six areas were also signed by Marcos.

RA 12248 declared June 15 of every year a special non-working holiday in General Santos City for the celebration of its charter anniversary.

March 7 of every year is a special working holiday in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao Del Norte for the city’s foundation day, according to RA12246.

RA 12250 declared Aug. 30 of every year a special working holiday in San Juan City for the commemoration of the Battle of Pinaglabanan.

Also enacted were laws declaring Sept. 18 and June 24 of every year as special working holidays in Bansalan, Davao del Sur and Balayan, Batangas, respectively.

Bansalan will celebrate its foundation anniversary as provided under RA 12247, while the people of Balayan will hold the “Parada ng Lechon” as provided under RA 12249.

Sept. 21 of every year is a special working holiday San Mateo, Rizal for the town’s foundation day, according to RA 12251.