Bid to divide city into 2 districts faces rough sailing?
The Local Government Committee of the House Representatives has endorsed the proposed redistricting of Iloilo City. With the approval in the committee level, the proposed bill is set to be calendared for plenary discussion.
Oliver Mendoza, consultant of Iloilo City Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr., in a text message said they are hoping that the proposed bill will be approved in the third reading next week.
House Bill 3672 authored by Gonzalez seeks to divide Iloilo City into two congressional districts with the districts of Mandurriao-Jaro-Lapaz-Lapuz composing the first district and City Proper-Molo-Arevalo composing the second district.
After the approval at the committee level, the bill has to pass the plenary. If the said house bill is approved before the Lower House, it will be transmitted to the Senate committee on Local Government headed by Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino
However, political observers say that HB 3672 still has a long way to go as the current population of Iloilo City is only 418,710. The figure was based on the 2007 total population and annual population growth rates by region, province and Highly Urbanized City conducted by the National Statistics Office. The next census will still be conducted in 2010.
The Philippine Constitution provides that a congressional district must have at least 250,000 population.
Section 5(4) of the 1987 Constitution provides that "within three years following the return of every census, the Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts based on the standards provided in this section."
Political stories abound that the planned redistricting is meant to accommodate Rep. Gonzalez and Mayor Jerry Treñas in the 2010 congressional elections. Trenas's term as mayor will end in 2010. The two both belong to the same political party.