Only 2nd, 3rd Districts likely to be affected
REDISTRICTING PLAN FOR 8
LINGAYEN—The first public consultation for the planned redistricting of the province was held last week and initial discussions point to just the 2nd, 3rd Districts that will be affected by the re-alignment of political boundaries.
“The result of the consultation shows that the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth districts will remain intact except for the town of Bautista, which belongs to the 5th District,” said Board Member Alfonso Bince after the public consultation on July 29, 2013, which was attended by local government officials, representatives of the six congressmen, and leaders of non-government groups leaders, among others.
Former 5th District Rep. Mark Cojuangco, who represented his wife, Rep. Kimi Cojuangco, said it would pain him and his wife to have any part of their district separated from its present form.
“At this point in time, lacking any additional reasons, we would rather not have our district dismembered in any way. That is our sentiment.” Cojuangco said.
2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil 3rd District Rep. Rosemarie Arenas sent representatives to the hearing.
The discussions initially reached a consensus that point to eight districts from the current six. The new districts will be made up of towns presently included in the 2nd and 3rd Districts.
The 2nd District is composed of Aguilar, Basista, Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Mangatarem, and Urbiztondo while the 3rd covers Bayambang, Calasiao, Malasiqui, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara, and San Carlos City.
According to the proposal, the 7th District will have San Carlos City, Basista, and Aguilar while the 8th district will be composed of Malasiqui, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, and Mapandan.
MAYORS
San Carlos City Mayor Julier Resuello, who was present during the consultation, expressed his approval of the plan wherein his city, which is highest in terms of population and number of voters, will be moved to another district.
“Iyong redistricting naman po is makakabuti sa probinsya, not just for a few municipalities and cities, but for the good of the province, knowing na not all the congressmen has the resources especially for the districts that have bigger municipalities or cities,” Resuello said.
“It will not just be additional representation but additional funds for Pangasinan,” he added.
Dasol Mayor Noel Nacar, president of the Pangasinan Mayors League, said he and his fellow mayors would consult first with 1st District Rep. Jesus Celeste as they feel their district should remain in its present configuration.
Nacar admitted that not all mayors are in favor of the redistricting plan, “but we could not do anything but support it for the betterment of Pangasinan”.
ABONO GROUP
Meanwhile, Engr. Rosendo So, chairman of Abono partylist group which represents the agricultural sector, expressed full support to the proposal.
“This is better than dividing the province because it means more projects from the Priority Development Assistance Fund if there would be two more congressional districts created from the existing six districts of Pangasinan,” So told The PUNCH.
So stressed for a need to have consultations with the six congressmen of Pangasinan because they are the ones who would fight for this move in Congress.
Conjuangco said former 6th District Rep. Conrado Estrella III, now Abono partylist representative, is in favor of keeping the 6th district intact based on their consultations.
Lawyer Ulysses Butuyan, who represented sixth district Rep. Marlyn Primcias-Agabas, said the congresswoman would rather have her district kept as well.
Bince, author of Provincial Resolution No. 293-2013 that creates an ad hoc committee to study the feasibility of redistricting the province, said the first public hearing was fruitful.
The next round of discussion is on Aug. 15 at the provincial board session hall.
Bince said there are two options prepared by the Committee for re-apportionment of the districts, which will be presented to the stakeholders.
Pangasinan has a projected population of more than 2.8 million by 2013 and the 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. .—Eva Visperas and Johanne R. Macob
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