THE president of the League of Mayors of the Philippines-Pangasinan Chapter, Manaoag Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario, called for public consultations on the proposed reapportioning of the province into eight districts from the current six.

“There are still a lot of things to be considered. We need to consult with local leaders and the public and carefully explain the goals behind this proposal. As of now, the feedback has been largely negative,” he said in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan.

The proposal is contained in House Bill No. 5133, filed by ABONO Party-list Representative Robert Raymund M. Estrella, and is now up for committee deliberations.

Despite his concerns about the bill’s timing, Rosario acknowledged the potential benefits of having a more representative structure for the province.

“We want a system that improves governance and service delivery, but it should be introduced in a way that garners the trust and support of the people,” he added.

Rosario also noted that the proposal has come at a time when the public’s attention is focused on such issues as corruption in government flood control projects. (Ahikam Pasion)