Public hearings on redistricting underway
LINGAYEN—Recognizing that previous redistricting proposals did not go through consultations with Pangasinenses, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has given assurance that the renewed plan to create new districts in the province will go through a series of public hearings.
Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., author of the recently-approved SP resolution providing for the redistricting plan., gave this assurance and said a resolution will eventually be passed identifying the municipalities that will constitute a particular congressional district.
SP members will seek an initial discussion of the plan with the province’s House Representatives when the President delivers his State of the Nation Address in Congress on July 22
Bince said the representatives be given the opportunity to choose initially the towns to remain in their districts.
Previous redistricting proposals involved only the first, second, and third districts.
“I think there is no question with the redistricting but the matter regarding what towns will constitute the other districts that will be quite contentious as perhaps congressmen would want to keep hold of towns that favor them politically,” noted Bince.
The congressmen’s choices will then be considered based on the qualifications to be determined by the study being undertaken for the redistricting.
In its July 8 session, the SP approved a resolution that creates an ad hoc committee to study the feasibility of redistricting the province into eight to 10 districts and has engaged the UP College of Public Administration to help determine the appropriate divisions of the province.
ONE BM PER DISTRICT
Gov. Amado Espino Jr. reportedly supports the proposal but raised concerns about the additional number of board members that translates to added cost to the province.
“My suggestion is to limit the number of Board Member into one per congressional district,” said Bince.
Article 6, Section 5 (3) of the Philippine Constitution provides that each city or province of at least 250,000 populace and comprising as far as practicable contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory may constitute one legislative district.
Pangasinan has a projected population of 2,892,873 by year 2013.— Johanne R. Macob
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