THE Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) of Bohol reiterated its call for the re-apportionment of Bohol to five congressional districts from existing three districts, Bohol LnB president and ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Dr. Romulo G. Cepedoza said in his privilege speech last week.
“This time around, this representation as President of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Bohol chapter manifested that the new Resolution of the Liga asking for additional districts in Bohol will be tackled by this august body,” Cepedoza said.
The matter was referred to the General Resolution/Ordinances committee of the provincial board.
Cepedoza cited paragraph 3 of section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which provides that each city or province with a population of at least 250,000 shall at least one representative to Congress as basis for the push for redistricting.Bohol now has a population of 1,394,329 as of May 01, 2020 pursuant to 2020 population census, he said.
LnB, he said, recently passed another a Resolution “asking the congressmen to forge a bill adding more districts in Bohol.”
Earlier, LnB-Bohol approved a Resolution No. 2018-070, sponsored by Cepedoza, of the same tenor.
Cepedoza said that he believes that adding more congressional districts “will bring more funding for various development programs and would spur further economic development in the province.”
The proposal for two more districts carries with it the following: District A to be composed of the towns of: Cortes, Dauis, Loon, Maribojoc, Panglao and Tagbilaran City with a total population of 264,943.
District B: Alburquerque, Antequera, Balilihan, Baclayon, Bilar, Corella, Dimiao, Loay, Loboc, Lila, Sevilla, Sikatuna, Valencia, Batuan and Carmen with 252,419 population.
District C: Buenavista, Calape, Clarin, Catigbian, San Isidro, Danao, Dagohoy, Inabanga, Sagbayan and Tubigon with 261,004.
District D: Alicia, Anda, Candijay, Duero, Guindulman, Garcia-Hernandez, Jagna, Mabini, Pilar and Sierra-Bullones with 256,996.
District E: Bien-Unido, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Getafe, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad and Ubay with 278,198 population.
The Sanggniang Panlalawigan earlier has expressed its favor in dividing the province’s existing three congressional districts into five by approving a Resolution endorsing such move.
Philippine Councilors’ League Bohol chapter and ex-officio Board Member Gloria Gementiza proposed for the said re-districting in her privilege speech during the Nov. 8 regular session presided over by Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor Balite.
Gementiza cited the same legal basis, providing that the re-apportionment of towns to congressional districts shall be adjacent and compact territory among others.
She pointed out that redistricting “will promote representative democracy and result to economic and social progress of our province.”
She told her colleagues that the PCL has already expressed its favor and support to the district’s reapportionment. (rvo)
