1. What is a Legislative District?
A Legislative District is a constituency with a Representative in the Lower House of Congress or the House of Representatives. It has an average population of about 250,000 to 500,000 which may be composed of: (a.) an entire province, (b.) within a province, a group of municipalities and cities (sometimes even including independent and highly urbanized cities geographically located in the province), (c.) a single city, (d.) a group of geographically adjacent independent cities and independent municipalities or (e.) a group of barangays within a city.
There are also city councilor districts for the purpose of electing Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) members, which follow the congressional district arrangement.
Each province is guaranteed at least one representative to the lower house, even though it may not come close to having the same population as that of other more populated legislative districts. Only voters within each district are allowed to vote in the election for the member of the House of Representatives from that district. (Source: http://www.answers.com/)
2. What are the requirements of a Legislative District?
Under the 1987 Constitution, each Legislative District shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory. It must also have a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand (250,000).
3. Can Congress accommodate another Member beyond the Constitutional limit of 250 Members?
The present limit of 250 members is not absolute. The Constitution clearly provides that the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than 250 members, "unless otherwise provided by law."
The inescapable import of the latter clause is that the present composition of Congress may be increased, if Congress itself so mandates through a legislative enactment.
Therefore, the increase in congressional representation mandated by law is not unconstitutional. (Tobias vs. Abalos, G.R. No. 114783, December 8, 1994)
4. How many Congressional Representatives is Zamboanga City entitled to?
As of the latest population census taken last August 2007, the City of Zamboanga has a total population of 774,407. Thus, the people of the City of Zamboanga are already entitled to three (3) Representatives in the House of Representatives.
5. How will a 3rd Legislative District be created?
A Legislative District is created by an Enabling Law passed by both houses of Congress. A Member of Congress must file a bill seeking the reappointment of the Barangays comprising the existing 1st and 2nd Legislative Districts.
In short, the 3rd District will be carved out of the existing Legislative Districts of Zamboanga City. The assignment of Barangays comprising the three Legislative Districts must comply with the constitutional requisites, i.e. each district must be composed of barangays which are contiguous, compact, and adjacent territories and it must have a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand. 6. How does a Bill become a Law?
A bill may be introduced in the House of Representatives or the Senate.On 1st Reading, the title and number of the bill is read, and then, it is referred to the appropriate committee. The committee studies the bill and conducts hearings on it. Thereafter, a committee report is prepared on the bill.
The committee report is read in open session, and together with the bill, it is referred to the Rules Committee. The Rules Committee can place the bill in the 2nd Reading Calendar or in the Calendar of Unassigned Business.
On 2nd Reading, a bill is subject to debate and amendment before being placed in the 3rd Reading Calendar for final passage. After its passage by one house, the bill goes through the same process in the other house.
If amendments are made in one house, the other house must concur. When the bill is passed by both houses, it is signed by their respective leaders and sent to the President for approval.
The President may sign the bill into a law, or veto all or part of it. The bill becomes a law if, within 30 days after receiving it, the President fails to sign or veto the bill. The bill, even if vetoed by the President, also becomes a law when Congress overrides the veto by a 2/3 vote of all its Members.
This whole process can take much time to be completed, such as years or even an entire Regular Session of Congress (3 years) or more. (Source: http://www.congress.gov.ph/)
7. What Barangays will be part of the 3rd Legislative District?
The composition of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Legislative Districts are currently being thoroughly studied in order to ensure compliance with the constitutional requirements. Public consultations with the affected constituents will be undertaken to ensure that the different points of view are considered before making the reappointment of barangays. 8. Are there any advantages or disadvantages in having a 3rd Legislative District?
One of the advantages in having a 3rd legislative district in the City of Zamboanga is additional representation in Congress for the residents of the City, which will be proportional to the number of its residents.
The creation of an additional legislative district will be consistent with the constitutional mandate of proportional representation. The additional representation will also result in the additional allocation of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) which makes possible the implementation, in every congressional district, of small-scale but significant projects which can not be part of large-scale projects of national agencies.
These projects are generally in the form of infrastructure, health, education and social aid packages. The additional congressional representative will also result in better administration and governance as well as a more efficient delivery of basic services to the people.
9. How will the creation of a 3rd Legislative District Impact the Sangguniang Panlungsod?
Republic Act No. 6636, as amended, provides that any city with more than one representative district shall have eight (8) councilors for each district who shall be residents thereof to be elected by the qualified voters therein.
For questions, comments and suggestions please contact or write to:
Congresswoman Isabelle "Beng" Climaco
1st District of Zamboanga City
AMWSLAI Building, Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City
Telefax: (062) 990-2759
Email: beng_climaco@yahoo.com
Website: bengclimaco.net
Congressman Erbie Fabian
2nd District of Zamboanga City
Yang's Tower, Guiwan, Zamboanga City
Tel. No. (062) 993-0600
(The Mindanao Examiner supports the proposed 3rd Legislative District for Zamboanga City)
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