Lapid keen on 2 more congressional districts for P’panga

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – If the Senate gives its nod, Pampanga might soon have six congressional districts from the present four.

Sen. Lito Lapid expressed optimism yesterday that the twin bills creating separate congressional districts for the cities of Angeles and San Fernando, which he endorsed recently to the Senate committee on local government chaired by Sen. Alfredo Lim, would be approved.

Lim’s committee heard the proposals the other day and got no objections.

Third district Rep. Reynaldo Aquino told The STAR that San Fernando meets all the requirements entitling it to be a lone congressional district separate from the third district, which also covers the towns of Mexico, Sta. Ana, Bacolor, Arayat, and Sta. Ana.

Aquino, who has served as San Fernando mayor, however, said the House has yet to tackle his bill.

First district Rep. Francis Nepomuceno, meanwhile, authored the bill creating a lone congressional district for Angeles City. The district also covers the towns of Magalang, Mabalacat, and Porac.

Nepomuceno first introduced the measure in the last Congress, but failed to have it approved before the sessions ended.

During the Senate hearing last Wednesday, Pampanga officials led by Gov. Mark Lapid expressed no objections to the twin bills.

Also present during the hearing were Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao, San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang, and other local officials.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, who is reportedly against the creation of a lone Angeles City congressional district, was not present.

Lapid cited the 2000 census of the National Statistics Office showing that San Fernando has a total population of 221,857, and Angeles City, 263,791.

The law provides that a congressional district should have a population of at least 200,000.

Besides Aquino and Nepomuceno, the two other Pampanga lawmakers are presidential son Mikey Arroyo and Anna York Bondoc, of the second and fourth districts, respectively.

Lapid said Lim is now expected to prepare his committee’s recommendations on the twin bills to the Senate.