Splitting Bohol to 5 districts gets support

CEBU, Philippines — The proposal of Representative Aris Aumentado (2nd district, Bohol) re-apportioning Bohol into five legislative districts is getting support, even from lawmakers who are not from the province.

Recently, Vice Governor Dionisio Balite said he is in favor of redistricting the province. Some municipal mayors also do the same. But some barangay leaders asked not to be named for supporting the move, without giving reasons.

Magdalo partylist Representative Gary Alejano however was open of his backing, saying he favors Aumentado’s proposal. A district needs only a 250,000 population to be qualified for a congressional district, and expanding Bohol to five districts will provide more projects to the province, and more voices in Congress, he said.

Aumentado had filed House Bill No. 7999, entitled “An Act Reapportioning the Province of Bohol into Five Legislative Districts.”

If this legislative measure will be enacted, then the existing third district, the largest in the province with 19 towns, and the second with 14 towns and the 1st with 13 towns and a city will be reapportioned to five districts.

In the Aumentado proposal, the first district will be composed of Tagbilaran City and the towns of Alburquerque, Baclayon, Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Panglao, and Sikatuna.

The second district will be of towns of Antequera, Balilihan, Calape, Catigbian, Clarin Loon, Maribojoc, Sagbayan, San Isidro, and Tubigon, while the third district will be of the towns of Inabanga, Pilar, Sierra-Bullones, Anda, Buenavista, Candijay, Dagohoy, and Danao.  The fourth district will be composed of the towns of Alicia, Bien-Unido, Getafe, Mabini, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, San Miguel, Talibon, Trinidad, and Ubay. The fifth district will have the towns of Batuan, Bilar, Carmen, Dimiao, Duero, Guildulman, Garcia-Hernandez, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Sevilla, and Valencia.

Under Section 2 of his bill, Aumentado said, “the incumbent representatives shall continue to represent their respective districts until the new representatives shall have been elected and qualified.”  The Commission on Elections is mandated under section 3 of the same proposal to issue necessary rules and regulations implementing the act, if approved.

“I feel Boholanos deserve more projects considering her geographical size and increase in population. I have the intention to see to it that more people benefit from government services,” which can be achieved only with more districts and additional budget for the province, Aumentado added.