Congressional race: 4 new districts up for grabs

MANILA, Philippines – New congressional districts in Batangas, Cebu and Laguna are up for grabs in the May elections.

President Aquino signed last year three laws creating four new districts, namely Batangas City and Lipa City in Batangas (Republic Act 10673); the seventh congressional district of Cebu (RA 10684) and Biñan City in Laguna.

Cebu will have a total of seven legislative districts while Batangas has six districts in the coming 17th Congress.

There are a total of 232 congressional districts and 56 party-list lawmakers in the 16th Congress.

The Constitution allows the creation of new congressional districts as long as certain criteria are met, including population.