Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17) — A bill seeking the creation of a third legislative district for Bataan was approved by the Senate on Monday. This would mean another congressional seat for the Central Luzon province if the measure is enacted before the 2022 elections.
Voting 22-0, senators passed on third and final reading its version of House Bill No. 8664 or the proposed law reapportioning Bataan into three legislative districts, from the current two.
The Senate amended the House bill to state that the first legislative district shall be composed of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, and Abucay. The measure the House of Representatives passed in February included Dinalupihan and Morong.
The second legislative district covers Balanga City, Orion, Pilar, and Limay under the Senate version. Morong and Dinalupihan will join Bagac and Mariveles in the third district.
These provisions will take effect “on the next national and local elections after the effectivity of this act,” the bill states. The incumbent representatives of Bataan shall continue to hold office “until the new representatives have been elected and qualified.”
During the plenary session, Senator Francis Tolentino, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, said the measure “will pave the way for a more robust development” for the province.
Earlier, Bataan 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III, who authored the bill, cited the population increase in the area, saying the number of residents has reached over 760,000 as of 2015. Based on the 250,000-population benchmark used for the 1986 apportionment of legislative districts and prescribed in the Constitution, he said the province should be entitled to a third congressional district.
Congress resumed session on Monday after a nearly two-month break.
