Cortes to push Mandaue lone district anew

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said that making the city a lone congressional district will be his mission in Congress.

Cortes, who is running for congressman in 2016, said he will again push for it if he wins in the elections.

 “1992 ni-qualify na ta. Daghan lang problema. So hopefully…,” Cortes said in an interview with reporters.

In 2011, a bill seeking to make Mandaue City a lone congressional district was filed but failed to push through due to some oppositions.

Many fear that turning Mandaue City into a separate congressional district would alienate the towns of Consolacion and Cordova in the sixth district.

The proposal stemmed from the petition of Mandaue leaders asking sixth district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing to sponsor the measure.

Among those who opposed the proposal were former deputy speaker Pablo Garcia, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, and fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon.

The sixth district is currently composed of the Mandaue City and the towns of Cordova and Consolacion. Lapu-Lapu City used to be part of the district but was separated after it was made a lone district. — (FREEMAN)