ILOILO City – Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda refiled the House Bill 6817 or an “Act Reapportioning the Lone Legislative District of the City of Iloilo”.
The bill is currently pending at the House of Representatives Committee on Local Government.
Committee chair Rex Gatchalian was appointed secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and committee meetings were stalled due to vacancy in chairmanship.
“Cong. Mercedes Alvarez was elected as committee chairperson recently so we expect the measure to be calendared soonest,” said Baronda.
Baronda is hopeful to get support from fellow legislators from the Lower House and the Senate.
Baronda first filed the proposed measure last July 29, 2019. The bill aims to add another legislative district in the city to help accelerate its growth as Western Visayas’ economic hub and regional center.
“Our dream of leveling up and becoming an even greater metropolis got a fresh boost,” said Baronda.
Such dream, she said, was started by former congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr. who filed House Bill 4256 in the 14th Congress and then congressman Jerry Treñas who filed House Bills 12919 and 3474 in the 15th and 17th Congresses, respectively./PN
