FORMER Panglao town Mayor Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan bats for the addition of two more congressional districts for the benefit of the province.
Dumaluan, a practicing doctor of medicine, found an ally in Benjie Sanchez Oliva, a native of Catigbian town.
In an exclusive interview on Saturday, Oliva, who is vying for a congressional seat via KOOP-KAMPI party-list, said that he is of the
opinion of Dumaluan.
Dumaluan, who hosted the Bohol Tri-Media Association get together (recently) held at the Marilou Dumaluan resort in Panglao town, told media practitioners and workers that it is already long overdue since Bohol is already qualified to have two (2) additional districts.
He said under the law, every congressional district to be created in congress must have at least 250,000 inhabitants. Since Bohol has a total population of almost 1.4 million, so it is already qualified to have an additional two districts, he said.
The lack of more districts makes Bohol denied of the budgetary goodies from the national government.
He explained that, if every district has, for example, at least one billion pesos budget for whatever program/project is eyed, then Bohol with two more added districts will definitely be at an advantage for more development.
Oliva opined that if other provinces, like Cebu and Cavite has done it thru legislation by their respective representatives in congress, why cannot Bohol.
But eventhough creating districts may be a tall order, the province or the voters have still the power to directly put congressmen at the lower chamber by electing a party-list, whose nominees are Boholanos, like Oliva, a supporter who asked anonymity, said.
Incumbent Congressman Aris Aumentado and Congresswoman Alexie Besas Tutor of the second and third districts, respectively have already filed bills for forming additional districts to make Bohol having five districts.
It was not immediately known if Congressman Edgardo Chatto (1st district) has done the same.
But both Aumentado and Tutor face an uphill move to push for their proposed law for creation of more districts at the House of Representatives since it still needs official endorsement from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
But the latter is reportedly lukewarm to respond to the said endorsement, a reliable source said.
The SP is chaired by Vice-Gov. Rene Relampagos and majority of its members are closely allied with Governor Arthur Yap and the former.
Both Aumentado and Tutor are on the opposite political fence.
Gov. Yap allegedly refused for such endorsement until after his last term (if reelected for two terms) ends, a reliable source said.
Efforts to contact the governor for comment as of press time was in vain. (rvo)
