Newly created Dinagat province triggers congressional question

SURIGAO CITY — Will the newly created province of Dinagat Island still belong to the first congressional district of Surigao del Norte (originally composed of Siargao Island and Dinagat itself) or should there be a third congressional district in Surigao del Norte?

This was raised by Surigao del Norte Vice Gov. Rodolfo "Ompong" Navarro and other officials here in light of the ongoing preparations for the May 2007 elections.

A group of lawyers headed by Surigao del Norte provincial board member Victor Bernal and former provincial administrator and board member lawyer Rene Medina said the newly created province is facing a dilemma but it must be solved earlier to avoid confusion.

Bernal and Medina, both political allies of Vice Gov. Navarro and Surigao del Norte’s Mayor’s League head Tubod Mayor Jun Romarate claimed that since the law creating Dinagat Island as a separate province has not included provisions for congressional districting, it is presumed that Dinagat is still part of Surigao del Norte’s first district.

But according to Navarro, it is expected that Dinagat as a province must have its own representation in Congress and since this is not included in Republic Act 9355 and no law so far has been passed which is required in the creation of a new legislative district, "the Supreme Court may settle the legal issue."

Navarro told The STAR in an interview that even if a law is passed to make Dinagat Island a separate legislative district, it would not meet the requirements provided for by law. — Ben Serrano