SUBJECT:  EXPANDED AUTHORITY OF PAIRING COURTS 

In the interest of efficient administration of justice, the authority of the pairing judge under Circular No. 7 dated September 23, 1974, [Pairing System for Multiple Sala Stations] to act on incidental or interlocutory matters and those urgent matters requiring immediate action on cases pertaining to the paired court, shall henceforth be expanded to include all other matters. Thus, whenever a vacancy occurs by reason of resignation, dismissal, suspension, retirement, death, or prolonged absence of the presiding judge in a multi-sala station, the judge of the paired court shall take cognizance of all the cases thereat as acting judge therein until the appointment and assumption to duty of the regular judge or the designation of an acting presiding judge or the return of the regular incumbent judge, or until further orders from this Court. 

For this purpose, the provisions of Circular No. 7 dated September 23, 1974 inconsistent with this Circular, are hereby amended.