Primer for those running for Cebu provincial posts

The latest overall statistics shows that the province has 4.9 million population, with seven congressional districts, plus two in Cebu City and one in Lapu-Lapu City. We have three highly urbanized cities: Cebu, Mandaue and Lapulapu, and six component cities: Toledo, Danao, Carcar, Naga, Talisay, and Bogo. There are 44 municipalities and 1,203 barangays in the province alone, not counting the barangays in the highly urbanized cities. The first district has three cities and three towns; the second has seven towns; the third, one city and six towns; the fourth, one city and seven towns; the fifth, one city and nine towns; the sixth, one city and two towns; and the seventh, eight towns.

The biggest districts in population are: first district, 709,660; fifth, 558,848; sixth, 553,894; third, 541,152; and fourth, 427,641. The smallest are in second district, 239,820, and seventh, 214,364. In voting population, the districts can be ranked as follows: first district, 431,872; third district, 364,931; sixth district, 350,166; fifth district, 349,470; fourth district, 282,172; second district, 161,417; and seventh, 154,031. In area, however, the biggest in square kilometers is the third district, 1,159.34; followed by fifth district, 814.15; seventh, 640.62; fourth, 484.19; and second district, 395.21. The whole sixth district, with only 89.05 square kilometers, is smaller than one-third of the area of Balamban town, even smaller than the town of Alegria.

For those running for governor, look at the size of the towns. The 20 biggest towns out of 44 are: Balamban, 333 square kilometers; Tuburan, 224.5; Argao, 191.5; Asturias, 190.4; Dalaguete, 154.9; Oslob, 154.2; Sibonga, 133.4; Moalboal, 124.8; Barili, 122.2; Borbon, 120.9; Sogod, 119.2; Boljoon, 117; Tabuelan, 114.1; Badian, 110; Pinamungajan, 109.1; San Remigio, 95.2; Daanbantayan, 92.27; Alegria, 89.4; and Dumanjug, 85.4. And the 20 smallest towns are: Cordova, 17.1; Madridejos, 23.9; Sta. Fe, 28; Pilar, 32.4; Tudela, 32.; Alcantara, 35.2; Santander, 36.6; Consolacion, 37; Samboan, 45.1; Liloan, 45.1; Compostela, 53.9; and Ronda, 57.1,

The first district can adopt the acronym: MinSanSi CarNaTa or Minglanilla, San Fernando, Sibonga, Carcar, Naga and Talisay. For the second district, I coined the acronym ADABOSS: Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan. The third district can be called the BaTBATPin or Barili, Aloguinsan, Toledo, Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan and Pinamungajan. The fourth is very difficult but I will try with Sta MaMeTa BaTa BoDaan or Sta. Fe, Madridejos, Medellin, Tabuelan, Bantayan, Tabogon, Bogo and Daanbantayan. The fifth district has too many local government units, thus, difficult, too, but I try to make do with D' BLiSST CarCom Cat or Danao, Borbon, Liloan, San Francisco, Sogod, Tabogon, Carmen, Compostela, and Catmon. The sixth district is CoCo Man or Cordova, Consolacion, and Mandaue. My district, the seventh, is DRAMMBAG is Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Malabuyoc, Badian, Alegria, and Ginatilan.

Suffice it to say that the first district is too big and too rich. Sibonga should be returned to Argao and the rest of the second district. Another thing, the seventh district is too poor and too small in population. Barili should join Dumanjug and the rest. The sixth district, on the other hand, is too small and too wealthy.