Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that would divide Rizal province’s second district into three new legislative districts.
Republic Act No. 11533, which was signed into law on March 25, states that the split will “take effect in the 2022 national and local elections.”
Each legislative district shall be composed of the following municipalities:
2nd district:
– Cardona
– Baras
– Tanay
– Morong
– Jala-jala
– Pililia
– Teresa
3rd district:
– San Mateo
4th district:
– Rodriguez
The law also directs the Commission on Elections to issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within 30 days of its effectivity.
The measure was filed in Congress “to ensure representation for the inhabitants of the Province of Rizal.”
It also aims to “help the local government units in the province to better respond to the needs of the people and also help facilitate in the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity building efforts of the province following this pandemic,” according to the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government.
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.
Rizal’s new 2nd district has a population of 449,103; the 3rd district has 252,527 people, while the fourth district has 369,222 residents, said Tolentino.
