Solon proposes 5 districts for Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Representative Erico Aristotle Aumentado (2nd district, Bohol) filed House Bill 7999 reapportioning Bohol province from the present three congressional districts into five.

Aumentado said there is a need to reapportion Bohol into five districts because he “feels Boholanos deserve more projects considering the geographical size of the province and the increase in population.”

In HB 7999 he filed on August 1, Aumentado proposed that the first district shall be composed of Tagbilaran City and the seven towns of Alburquerque, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Panglao, and Sikatuna.

The proposed second district shall cover 10 towns: Antequera, Balilihan, Calape, Catigbian, Clarin, Loon, Maribojoc, Sagbayan, San Isidro, and Tubigon.

The proposed third district will have nine towns: Anda, Buenavista, Candijay, Dagohoy, Danao, Guindulman, Inabanga, Pilar, and Sierra Bullones.

The proposed fourth district consists of nine towns: Alicia, Bien Unido, Getafe, Mabini, President Carlos P. Garcia, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad, and Ubay.

The proposed fifth district will have 12 towns: Batuan, Bilar, Carmen, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia-Hernandez, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Sevilla, and Valencia.

Aumentado explained that his intention in proposing to reapportion Bohol into five districts is “to see to it that more people benefit from government services.”

He said: “Providing additional legislative districts will mean additional budget allocations for the province which in turn will boost the development in the countryside as more representations in Congress will mean more watchdogs and defenders to push for vital legislations that will spur development for the province.”

In his Bill, Aumentado proposed that reapportioning of Bohol into five districts would commence in the next national and local elections after its effectivity into law.

He also added that the incumbent representatives of the first, second and third districts of Bohol “shall continue to represent their respective districts until the new representatives shall have been elected and qualified.  — Angeline Valencia