Section 54June 17, 1948, Sec./Art. 54

Places and time of holding court. - For the Sixth Judicial District, court shall be held in the City of Manila. In other districts court shall be held at the capitals or places in which the respective judges are permanently stationed, except as hereinafter provided. Sessions of court shall be convened on all working days when there are cases ready for trial or other court business to be dispatched.

In the following districts, court shall also be held at the places and times hereinbelow specified:

First Judicial District: At Santo Domingo de Basco, Province of Batanes, on the first Tuesday of March of each year. A special term of court shall also be held once a year, in the municipalities of Ballesteros and Tuao, both of the Province of Cagayan, and at Kiangan, Subprovince of Ifugao, in the discretion of the district judge.

Second Judicial District: At Bangued, Province of Abra, on the first Tuesday of January, March, June, and October of each year; at Bontoc, Mountain Province, on the first Tuesday of March, June, and November of each year; and, whenever the interest of justice so require, a special term of court shall be held at Lubuagan, Subprovince of Kalinga.

Seventh Judicial District: At Coron, Province of Palawan, on the first Monday of March and August of each year; at Cuyo, same province, on the second Thursday of March and August of each year; and at Puerto Princesa, same province, on the fourth Wednesday of March and August of each year.

Eighth Judicial District: The judge shall hold special term at the municipalities of Lubang, Mambunao and San Jose, Province of Mindoro, once every year, as may be determined by him; at Boac, Province of Marinduque, on the first Tuesday of March, July, September and December of each year.

Ninth Judicial District: At Infanta, Province of Quezon, for the municipalities of Infanta, Casiguran, Baler and Polillo, on the first Tuesday of June of each year; at Daet, Camarines Norte, terms of court shall be held at least six times a year on the dates to be fixed by the district judge.

Tenth Judicial District: At Virac, Province of Catanduanes, on the first Tuesday of March and September of each year; at Romblon, Province of Romblon, on the first Tuesday of January, June, and October of each year; and at Badajos, same province, on the third Tuesday of January, June, and October of each year.

Eleventh Judicial District: At San Jose, Province of Antique, on the first Tuesday of February, June and October of each year; and at Culasi, same province, on the first Tuesday of December of each year.

Twelfth Judicial District: At Larena, Subprovince of Siquijor, on the first Tuesday of August of each year.

Thirteenth Judicial District: The first branch, at Calbayog, Province of Samar, on the first Tuesday of September of each year; and Basey, same province, on the first Tuesday of January of each year; and the second branch, at Oras, same province, on the first Tuesday of July of each year, and the first Tuesday of October of each year in Guiwan; on the third branch, at Catarman, same province, on the first Tuesday of October of each year.

Fifteenth Judicial District: At Cantilan, Province of Surigao, on the first Tuesday of August of each year; at Butuan, Province of Agusan, on the first Tuesday of March and October of each year; a special term of court shall also be held once a year in either the municipality of Tandag or the municipality of Hinatuan, Province of Surigao, in the discretion of the district judge; at Mambajao, Province of Oriental Misamis, on the first Tuesday of March of each year. A special term of court shall, likewise, be held, once a year, either in the municipality of Talisayan or in the municipality of Gingoog, Province of Oriental Misamis, in the discretion of the district judge; at Iligan, Province of Lanao, on the first Tuesday of March and October of each year.

Sixteenth Judicial District: At Dipolog, Province of Zamboanga, terms of court shall be held at least three times a year on dates to be fixed by the district judge; at Pagadian, same province, for the municipalities of Pagadian, Margosatubig and Kabasalan, at least once a year; at Jolo, Province of Sulu, terms of court shall be held at least four times a year on dates to be fixed by the district judge; at Banganga and Mati, Province of Davao; and at Glan, Province of Cotabato, terms of court shall be held at least once a year on the dates to be fixed by the district judge.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, whenever weather conditions, the condition of the roads or means of transportation, the number of cases or the interest of the administration of justice require it, the Secretary of Justice may advance or postpone the term of court or transfer the place of holding the same to another municipality within the same judicial district; and, in the land registration cases, to any other place more convenient to the parties.