LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Benguet caretaker congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap recently filed House Bill (HB) 6615 that seeks to re-apportioning Benguet into two legislative districts.
Under Yap’s proposed bill, in the next national and local election after the effectivity of the same, Benguet will be re-apportioned into 2 legislative districts, the first legislative bid strict shall be composed of the municipalities of Bokod, Itogon, Kabayan, Sablan and Tuba while the second legislative district shall be composed of the municipalities of Atok, Bakun, Buguias, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Mankayan and Tublay.
The bill added that the incumbent Representative of Benguet shall continue to represent and serve the lone district until the Representative for the 2 districts shall have been elected and qualified.
The Commission on Election (COMELEC) shall issue the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the implementation of the law within 30 days from its approval.
At present, Benguet is politically divided into 13 municipalities and with the province’s soaring economy, and growing population, the re-apportioning of the same is relevant to appropriately address the needs of its constituents.
Yap’s proposed bill seeks to apportion the one district into 2 legislative districts to allow greater representation of the province in Congress to help in advancing the interest of the people living in the 13 municipalities.
The lawmaker asserted that the proposed re-districting of the province also seeks to ensure equitable representation for the people in the legislature and the national government by creating a new district.
Yap assured the people of Benguet that the bill will undergo the required consultations with the concerned stakeholders to solicit their suggestions, recommendations and positions on the matter prior to the submission of the bill for plenary debates.
According to him, the proposed composition of the 2 districts are simply part of the process on how to equitably divide the province but the same can still be revised depending on the outcome of the consultations that will be conducted by the committee in the House of Representatives where the bill will be referred.
He urged concerned stakeholders in the province to be open-minded on the proposed re-districting of Benguet and for them to submit their consolidated proposals on how to equitably divide Benguet into 2 districts so that the province will have increased representation that will ensure the provision of additional projects and enhance the delivery of basic services to the people in the said districts.
Earlier, the late Rep. Nestor B. Fongwan, Sr. had been advocating for the re-districting of the province because of the continuous increase in population in the different municipalities coupled with the improving economic activities in the said areas where vegetable farming is the major source of livelihood of hundreds of thousands of residents.
By HENT
