Diocese of Balanga/2003–2009: Antonio Dumaual and Socrates Buenaventura Villegas

Following the transfer of Bishop Honesto Flores Ongtioco to the Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City, Metro Manila on August 28, 2003, the diocese, through its College of Consultors, appointed Rev. Fr. Antonio Dumaual as sede vacante diocesan administrator. The vacancy was the longest in the diocese from July 3, 2004 until Florentino Galang Lavarias (who is the Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga since October 27, 2014) exactly 20 years later on July 2024 as apostolic administrator or temporary bishop. On May 3, 2004, Socrates Buenaventura Villegas became third Bishop of Balanga upon appointment by Pope John Paul II. Villegas was then installed into office on July 3, 2004, ending the 11 months and 310 days diocese's vacancy of office under Dumaual. During the six-calendar year and 2,011 days of Villegas as third bishop, he renovated the interior of the cathedral from 2004 to 2005. This changed the altar's color from green and gold to cream, adding the coat of arms of past and current Bishops of Balanga at the cathedral's aisle, and the current cathedra and its location were made. The Mount Samat Pilgrimage that involves walking from the foot of Mt. Samat to the cross in Pilar, Bataan started in November 2004, with its associated theme song "Bataan, Bayani at Banal" was made where it also became the diocese's anthem since then. On July 2005, the consecutive six years period of the diocese was started that involves staying a particular rector and parish priest on that church and parish until the bishop decides to transfer and have a fill in during that period. In 2006, the Diocesan Schools of Bataan and Educational Foundation, Inc. (DSOBEFI) was established, integrating the Catholic schools in Bataan into the Diocese of Balanga. 15-life sized saints representing the churches and parishes of the diocese were added outside the Balanga Cathedral in 2008. On that same year, the diocese's clinic Clinica Diocesano de San Jose was established. The following year in 2009 months before Villegas stepped down as third bishop to become Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan, the genealogy of Jesus at the cathedral's arch and Jesus at the dome were added. On November 4, 2009, Villegas became Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, ending his tenure as third bishop.