REELECTED Congresswoman Kristine Alexie B. Tutor vowed to resuscitate her legislative bill splitting Bohol into five congressional districts she filed during her first term of office in the House of Representatives.
This came after the failed attempt to get an official endorsement from the provincial board dominated by Gov. Arthur Yap’s board members, she told media interview while celebrating feast day of her hometown last week.
Earlier, Tutor said that whenever there’s a legislative proposal to divide a province, the affected sectors must be consulted as a matter of practice. When all the sectors, such as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and municipal mayors, are consulted and favorable, only then the House of Representatives may consider it for approval, the source added.
She said she’s confident that with Governor-elect Aris Aumentado, who also proposed similar bill in House of Representatives (HoR), her pet bill will be considered by the SP for its indorsement.
Her optimism is boosted with the fact that the SP under Vice-Governor-elect Dionisio Victor A. Balite favors her legislative bill of dividing Bohol for more districts, especially the 3rd district she represented, the biggest with 19 towns having a total of 436 barrios.
But there remains a challenge. The Aumentado-Balite administration should make sure it secures a majority in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to obtain the much-needed indorsement for her bill.
For now, both sides have five each of the 10 regular SP members. Elected five BMs under the Aumentado-Balite administration are Lucille Lagunay for first district; Atty. Tomas Abapo, Jr. and Atty. Jami Villamor (2nd dist); and Tita Baja and Greg Jala (3rd dist).
On the other side, it has reelected BM Aldner Damalerio and Atty. Benjie Arcamo; Mimi Boniel-Maglasang for 2nd district; and Atan Binlod and reelected Dr. Elpidio Bonita (3rd district).
The Aumentado-Balite tandem must regain the presidency of the Philippine Councilor’s League Bohol chapter now being led by Loay councilor Jescelo Adiong.
It was learned that San Isidro town reelected councilor Gloria Biwang Gementiza is the administration bet for PCL presidency come its election in August this year. Gementiza, wife of Mayor Atty. Dadz Gementiza, was then the PCL president which represented to the provincial board as ex-officio member.
If ever the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will push through in December 5, 2022, the administration of Aumentado should also secure the presidency of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB, former Association of barangay councils) and the SK federation, according to political observers.
At present, the LnB and SK federation are led by incumbents Dr. Romulo Cepedoza of Danao town and Victor Bolos of Dauis, respectively.
“Bohol is entitled to 5 districts and could have additional Php 600M to 2 billion development fund every year!” We need more Boholano policy makers in Congress. Under the present system, legislators are responsible for fighting for allocation for a certain district to have devt funds in the General Appropriation Act (GAA). Around 300M to 1 Billion are appropriated per district yearly in the GAA. Bohol is therefore deprived of, or we could have additional, 600M to 2 Billion per year if Bohol will have additional two more representatives (at least one per 250k population per the 1987 constitution). Davao provinces, Rizal and many others successfully added additional districts.”
It was learned that “A law dividing the second district of Rizal into three legislative districts has been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte,” who signed Republic Act (RA) 11533 or “An Act Reappropriating the Second Legislative District of the Province of Rizal Into Three Legislative Districts” on March 25, 2021.
SUPPORT
The Liga ng mga Barangay thru ex-officio member Dr. Romulo Cepedoza reportedly has supported the move for Bohol’s redistricting.
Some Mayors also expressed the same but the proposal has not yet been tackled by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Bohol chapter led by Dauis Mayor Miriam Sumaylo, according to a municipal official.
TUTOR PROPOSAL
1st District – The towns of Panglao, Dauis, Baclayon, Albur, Corella, Sikatuna, Cortes, Maribojoc and Tagbilaran City – population 268,245
2nd District – Balilihan, Antequera, Loon, Calape, San Isidro, Tubigon, Clarin, Inabanga, Buenavista – population 245,304
3rd District – Getafe, Talibon, Bien-Unido, Trinidad, San Miguel, Ubay, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia – population 278,198
4th District – Jagna, Duero, Guindulman, Anda, Candijay, Mabini, Alicia, Pilar, Sierra-Bullones, Dagohoy – population 251,960
5th District – Loay, Lila, Dimiao, Valencia, G-Hernandez, Loboc, Sevilla, Bilar, Batuan, Carmen, Catigbian, Sagbayan and Danao — 260,850.
AUMENTADO PROPOSAL
Aumentado also filed House Bill No. 7999, entitled “An Act Reapportioning the Province of Bohol into Five Legislative Districts.”
If this legislative measure will be enacted, then the existing third district, the largest in the province with 19 towns, and the second with 14 towns and the 1st with 13 towns and a city will be reapportioned to five districts.
In the Aumentado proposal, the first district will be composed of Tagbilaran City and the towns of Alburquerque, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Panglao, and Sikatuna.
The second district will be of towns of Antequera, Balilihan, Calape, Catigbian, Clarin Loon, Maribojoc, Sagbayan, San Isidro, and Tubigon.
Third district will be of the towns of Inabanga, Pilar, Sierra-Bullones, Anda, Buenavista, Candijay, Dagohoy, and Danao.
The fourth district will be composed of the towns of Alicia, Bien-Unido, Getafe, Mabini, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad, and Ubay.
The fifth district will have the towns of Batuan, Bilar, Carmen, Dimiao, Duero, Guildulman, Garcia-Hernandez, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Sevilla, and Valencia.
Under Section 2 of his bill, Aumentado said, “the incumbent representatives shall continue to represent their respective districts until the new representatives shall have been elected and qualified.” The Commission on Elections is mandated under section 3 of the same proposal to issue necessary rules and regulations implementing the act, if approved.
“I feel Boholanos deserve more projects considering her geographical size and increase in population. I have the intention to see to it that more people benefit from government services,” which can be achieved only with more districts and additional budget for the province, Aumentado added.
Bohol is said to have already some 1.3 million people which is entitled to at least five congressional districts. Under the law, each district to qualify must have at least 250,000 population, not voting population. (rvo)
