MANILA, Philippines - After waiting for more than two decades, residents of Novaliches in Quezon City will, at last, be getting two additional congressional districts in the coming mid-term elections in May 2013.
This, after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 4245 “reapportioning the second legislative district of Quezon City, thereby creating two additional legislative districts and 12 Sangguniang Panlungsod seats from such reapportionment.”
The measure was introduced by Quezon City Second District Rep. Winston Castelo and co-authored by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (4th District), Rep. Jorge John Banal Jr. (3rd District), Rep. Vincent Crisologo (1st District), and Bagong Henerasyon Party-List Rep. Bernadette Dy.
Under the bill, Novaliches, currently the biggest congressional district in Metro Manila, and the entire country, with a voting population of over 600,000 will be divided into three congressional districts.
At present, Quezon City is composed of four legislative districts as apportioned in an ordinance appended to the 1987 Constitution by the Constitutional Commission of 1986 during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino .
Once H.B. 4245 is approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III, the number of Quezon City’s legislative districts will increase to six, the same as that of Manila. The number of Quezon City councilors will likewise increase to 36 from the present 24.
The newly-created legislative districts will be called District 5 and District 6. The present three other congressional districts of Quezon City will maintain a status quo.
Under the bill, the current second legislative district will retain the following big and populous barangays: Bagong Silangan, Batasan Hills (site of the Batasang Pambansa), Commonwealth, Holy Spirit, and Payatas.
The new Legislative District 5 will be composed of Barangays Novaliches Proper, Bagbag, Capri, Greater Lagro, Gulod, Kaligayahan, Nagkaisang Nayon, North Fairview, Pasong Putik Proper, San Agustin, San Bartolome, Santa Lucia, Santa Monica, and Fairview Proper.
On the other hand, District 6 will be comprised of Barangays Talipapa, Sauyo, Tandang Sora, Sangandaan, Pasong Tamo, Culiat, New Era, Baesa, Balon-Bato, Unang Sigaw and Apolonio Samson.
The congressmen and councilors of the two additional districts will be elected during the May 2013 mid-term polls. The bill has been transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence. (Severino Samonte)
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