Cebu getting a 7th district

CEBU, Philippines - The Senate approved yesterday House Bill No. 4427 titled “An Act Creating an Additional Legislative District in Cebu to be Known as the Seventh Legislative District.”

The measure was approved on third reading with a 13-0 vote. Those who voted for the approval of the measure were senators Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, Allan Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Gringo Honasan, Lito Lapid, Bongbong Marcos, Koko Pimentel, Tito Sotto III, Cynthia Villar and Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla were not able to vote because they were under detention while Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was on sick leave. The other senators were absent. 

House Bill No. 4427 was authored at the House of Representatives by Cebu representatives Wilfredo Caminero (2nd District), Benhur Salimbangon (4th District), Aileen Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City Lone District) and Gwendolyn Garcia (3rd District). It was Senator Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, who sponsored the measure at the Senate.

The proposed Seventh Legislative District shall be composed of the municipalities of Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc and Ginatilan. The proposed new district has a population of 200,092 based on the 2010 census of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The municipalities of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan shall continue to comprise the Second legislative District of the province. These municipalities have a combined population of 223,360 also based on the 2010 census.

Marcos noted that the highly urbanized City of Cebu is the main center of commerce, but trade, education and industry in the Visayas is often grouped with the province, together with the two other highly urbanized cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

Also, Marcos said that many beautiful islands, white sand beaches, luxury hotels and resorts, diving locations and heritage sites, high domestic and foreign arrivals of tourists which have fueled the tourism industry of Cebu are located in the provinces.

The Province of Cebu currently has six legislative districts and is ranked as the fifth most populated province of the country with a population of 2,619,362 based on the 2010 census.

Marcos believes that the creation of a new legislative district will boost the development efforts not only in the said area but in the whole province.

Lawmakers happy

 “It’s a fulfillment of a dream that one of the solutions that will fast track development for Cebu is more representations in Congress,” Caminero said.

He said President Benigno Aquino III will sign the approved measure and there is no need for a bicameral conference since Senate has adopted the whole version of his bill.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said he is glad with the development.

“I’ve always pushed for the splitting of the second district since it’s such a big district comprising 15 municipalities. I look forward to its approval by the president,” Davide said.

Davide and Caminero both hail from Argao town of the second district and are allies of Aquino in the Liberal Party.

“Makaayo gyud sa Cebu in terms of infrastructure and development. Alkansi kaayo ta sa uban probinsiya nga mas daghan congressman, mas daghan projects,” said Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia of the One Cebu Party whose town will be part of the seventh district soon.

Provincial Board Members Peter John Calderon and Christopher Baricuatro both welcome the development saying it will benefit the people of their district.

“More focus in project determination and additional budget from the national government,” Baricuatro said.

Aside from an additional representation in Congress, two more PB members will be added for the seventh district in the Provincial Legislative Department.

Baricuatro can still seek re-election for PB in the seventh district since he is a resident of Dumanjug while Calderon, a resident of Samboan, is on his last term.

Calderon’s transfer of his voter’s registration in Ginatilan since 2012 has raised speculation he might run for Congress for the seventh district.

“I still need to assess my chances,” Calderon said.

Meanwhile, Garcia said their family has not yet decided who will run for Congress in the new district.

Garcia’s brother, former PB member and president and general manager of Government Service Insurance System, Winston Garcia, was reportedly registered in Dumanjug town.

"Winston was floated to run either for governor or for congressman in the seventh district in the next election," said Nelson during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Garcias’ father, former Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, originally filed the proposal to divide the second district but lost in the 2013 elections to Caminero who re-filed the bill.

Pablo, in a privilege speech during the 15th Congress, said that the congressman of the second district of Cebu is having a much more difficult time discharging his constituency services, attending to the needs of 15 municipalities, and 284 barangays, which cover an area that is almost one-third of the total land area of the province. — (FREEMAN)