Lawmaker proposes 5th N. Ecija district

MANILA, Philippines - Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Violago is seeking the creation of a fifth congressional district in his province by splitting his constituency, the second district.

Under the proposal, the city of San Jose and the towns of Carranglan, Lupao and Talugtug would remain under the second district, while the Science City of Muñoz and the municipalities of Pantabangan, Rizal and Llanera would comprise the new fifth district.

Violago said the increase in the population of the two cities and six towns called for grouping them into two legislative districts.

“Since 1987, the population of the province of Nueva Ecija has increased to almost two million as of May 2010, based on the record of the National Statistics Office. This necessitates a reapportionment of its legislative districts in order to give proper and adequate representation in the House of Representatives to all its inhabitants,” Violago said.

He said the population in the proposed fifth district may not reach the required 250,000 inhabitants, but this should not prevent the creation of an additional district.

He cited the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of Aquino vs. Commission on Elections issued on April 7, 2010, which states that a population of 250,000 is not an indispensable requirement for the creation of an additional legislative district in a province whose population growth has increased beyond its 1986 numbers.

“Under the SC ruling, population is not the only factor but is just one of several factors in the creation of an additional district,” Violago said.

He said it is imperative for Congress to reapportion the legislative districts in his province to meet the increasing socio-economic demands of its people.

Under his proposal, the composition of the first, third and fourth districts would remain the same.

Earlier, the House approved a bill designating Batangas City as a separate legislative district. Once enacted, Batangas would have five districts.

Cebu, including Cebu City, has the most number of congressional districts with eight, followed by Cavite with seven, and Pangasinan, Manila, Quezon City and Negros Occidental with six districts each.