A bill seeking to reapportion the second district of Rizal province second into three legislative districts has been approved by the House of Representatives on third reading, its representative, Fidel Nograles said.
House Bill No. 6222 was approved on Monday, a development Nograles hailed, adding that he was optimistic that the measure will hurdle the Senate’s scrutiny and gain the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte soon.
Under the proposed measure, the second district of Rizal province will be split into three districts.
“We filed the reapportioning bill to ensure equitable representation for our constituents. Sa kasalukuyan, masyadong malaki ang nasasakupan ng 2nd District,” said the solon.
“Gaano man tayo magpursigi na mapaglingkuran ang lahat, may mapagi-iwanan talaga kung magpapatuloy ang current setup,” added Nograles.
The lawmaker added that under the present structure, Rizal’s four legislators are representing 2.9 million constituents, or a ratio of one reprsentative for every 721,000 people.
Meanwhile, Pangasinan and Batangas, which have roughly the same population, have six legislative districts, he explained.
“The choice is much more difficult when by all accounts the towns are on equal footing.”
Under the proposed measure, the second district of Rizal province will be split into three districts, with each one composed of the following municipalities:
· Second Legislative District: Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Morong, Jala-jala, Pililia, Teresa
· Third Legislative District: San Mateo
· Fourth Legislative District: Rodriguez
If passed, the measure will take effect in time for the 2022 national and local elections.
Nograles said he filed the reapportioning bill earlier this year on account of logistical challenges he had encountered during his first year in office.
“While we are aware that governance requires making hard decisions in terms of distributing valuable yet finite resources in our jurisdictions, the choice is much more difficult when by all accounts the towns are on equal footing,” lamented the lawmaker.
“Kaya minarapat na lang po natin na mag-file ng reapportionment bilang pagkilala na karapat-dapat lang na makatanggap ng pantay na serbisyo ang lahat ng mamamayan sa 2nd Distict,” the solon added.
The lawmaker also said that the additional funds that will come due to the reapportionment could help the whole province grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Malaking tulong ang madadagdag na pondo sa recovery efforts ng buong probinsya. Mailalaan natin ang pondong ito para mapabuti ang health system, edukasyon, at infrastructure,” said Nograles.