MANILA, Philippines - Biñan City is now a new congressional district of Laguna.
Republic Act 10658, which President Aquino signed into law on March 27, separated Biñan City from the first legislative district of Laguna. The law was published in The STAR yesterday.
Under the law, the incumbent representative of the first district of Laguna will continue to represent the new district until the expiration of his term.
The Commission on Elections was tasked to issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the measure within 30 days after its effectivity.
Laguna First District Rep. Danilo Fernandez hailed the passage of the law, saying it would improve the delivery of services to Biñan City residents.
“The new law is very positive. Biñan will now have its own representation in Congress who will help bring important government projects and even investments,” Fernandez, who filed the measure as soon as he assumed office in 2013, said.
He said Biñan has met the population and revenue requirements to be a legislative district.
He thanked Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on local governments, for supporting the measure.
Fernandez said at least 50 bills on the creation of the various congressional districts are pending before the House of Representatives, but it helped that there was no objection from local officials, including the governor.
He said his district, which includes the cities of San Pedro and Sta. Rosa, are also qualified to be congressional districts. He said their separation as lone constituencies may be acted upon in the next regular session of Congress.