CEBU, Philippines - More than a month since its passage in Congress, the approved bill creating a seventh district of Cebu is still awaiting for President Benigno Aquino III’s signature to become a law.
That is why Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who visited Cebu City yesterday to speak on his substitute bill on the Bangsamoro Basic Law before University of Cebu-Banilad Campus students, is asking the president why.
“It’s finished, I have no idea what the president is thinking. We are done in Congress, we have done our part, (but) we have to wait for the president’s action or non-action,” he told a press conference.
Marcos said after the lapse of 30 days without the signature of the President, the bill should by now become a law.
Article X (Bills, Resolutions, Messages, Memorials and Petitions) Section 65 (Action by the President) of the Senate House Rules states that “If the president approves the bill or joint resolution, the president shall sign it; otherwise, the president shall veto it and return the same to the House together with the specific objections.”
“The president shall communicate the veto on any bill or joint resolution to the House within 30 days after receipt thereof, otherwise, it shall become a law as if it was signed,” it added.
“I’m a little surprise that he hasn’t signed it already. Of course that’s his prerogative. I don’t know what’s his reason could possibly be. I would be very interested to know why he hasn’t signed it,” Marcos said.
The Senate approved on July 28, 2015 House Bill No. 4427 titled “An Act Creating an Additional Legislative District in Cebu to be Known as the Seventh Legislative District.”
The Bill was authored at the House of Representatives by Cebu Representatives Wilfredo Caminero (second district), Benhur Salimbangon (fourth district), Aileen Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City lone district) and Gwendolyn Garcia (third district).
It was 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 munici-palities of Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc and Ginatilan.
The municipalities of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan shall continue to compose second legislative district of the province. — Gregg M. Rubio/RHM (FREEMAN)