Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 2) – The Lower House passed on final reading on Monday House Bill No. 6222, which seeks to divide the second congressional district of Rizal province into three new districts.
Under the bill authored by Rizal second district Rep. Fidel Nograles, the towns of Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Morong, Jala-Jala, Pililla, and Teresa will be retained in the second legislative district.
While San Mateo and Montalban will have their own legislative district, being the third and fourth congressional districts of Rizal respectively under the measure.
Nograles said the passage of the bill is timely so that there will be a proper allocation of funds among these towns in Rizal province.
“Nangangahulugan din ito sa pagtaas ng pondo para sa ating probinsya na maaaring magamit sa mas maraming programang pangkalusugan, pangkabuhayan, edukasyon, at imprastraktura. Ibig sabihin, hindi na natin paghahati-hatian ang isang bahagi lamang ng pondo para sa isang distrito at magkakaroon tayo ng mas dagdag na pondo para sa ospital, gamot, at iba pang tulong pinansyal,” said Nograles in his Facebook page.
[Translation: It also means raising funds for our province that can be used for more health, economic, education, and infrastructure programs. This also means that we will no longer split only one portion of the district’s funding and we will have more funding for hospital, medicine, and other financial assistance.]
Based on the 2015 Census, Montalban has a population of 369,222 while San Mateo is home to 252,527 individuals.
Article 6, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution provides that a locality with at least 250,000 residents and comprise “as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory” must have one representative in the House of Representatives.
