ILOILO City – The proposed reapportionment of this southern city into two legislative districts will ensure better representation in Congress for its nearly half a million residents, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6.
The approval of House Bill 8477 or “An Act Reapportioning the Lone Legislative District of the City of Iloilo” in the House of Representatives was most welcome, said Assistant Regional Director Mariz Sardua.
“A refocused development planning could be instituted as Iloilo City thrives to be among the country’s premier cities,” said Sardua, concurrent regional manager of the Local Governance Regional Resource Center 6.
The House of Representatives approved House Bill 8477 on third and final reading on Feb. 2.
Filed by Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda last July 29, 2019, the bill aims to add a legislative district here to help accelerate the metro’s growth and development as Western Visayas’ economic hub and regional center.
“Our dream of leveling up and becoming an even greater metropolis got a fresh boost,” according to Baronda.
Such dream, she said, was started by former congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr. who filed House Bill 4256 in the 14th Congress, then by now Mayor Jerry Treñas who filed House Bills 12919 and 3474 in the 15th and 17th Congresses.
Meanwhile, Sardua said DILG-6 is committed to help Iloilo City in matters of local governance.
As a regional center, she said, Iloilo City plays a vital role in positioning Western Visayas as a region that grows beyond what are seen by the eyes.
Mayor Jerry Treñas also welcomed the development.
“It is long overdue. The creation of another district means another congressperson will be able to provide more projects, financial assistance, scholarships and other services,” he told Panay News.
He emphasized that he is always in support in projects that will help residents.
“The city has already developed so much that we can accommodate another congressional district. I believe our constituents will benefit a lot from this development,” he added.
House Bill 8477 is set to group the districts of Jaro, La Paz and Mandurriao together as the First Legislative District, and cluster City Proper, Molo, Arevalo and Lapuz as the Second Legislative District./PN
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