New congressional district for Cotabato proposed

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 30, 2008) – North Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Mendoza has filed a bill seeking to establish a third congressional district in the province.

“This is all about providing the entire Cotabato province its fair share of national development funds and basic social services,” said Mendoza, who filed recently House Bill 4947.

“Since we have only two districts now, Cotabato is getting funds meant only for two districts. This is because while the province is already fully entitled to a third district, Congress has yet to be establishing the new district,” she said.

She said national agencies tend to apportion their funds, whether for education, health, social services, farm modernization or public works, along districting lines.

North Cotabato is divided into two congressional districts with Mendoza representing the First District and Rep. Bernado Pinol on the Second District.

Mendoza said her district, which is composed of 9 towns - Carmen, Kabacan, Banisilan, Alamada, Libungan, Pigkawayan, Midsayap, Pikit and Aleosan – had a population of more than 584,000 as of August 2007 and is qualified to have three congressional districts. The total population of the province is 958,643 as of 2000 Census.

The House of Representatives at present has 240 members and the Constitution provides a maximum of 250 congressional seats. Each of the members of the House of Representatives is entitled to P70-million Priority Development Assistance Fund annually.

In Zamboanga City, a similar proposal by Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco is also drawing huge support among residents. Zamboanga, which has a population of 774,000, is divided into two congressional districts with Climaco representing the First District and Rep. Erico Fabian on the Second District.Climaco said the new funding that goes with it could help develop many poor areas in Zamboanga City.

“A new congressional district would give us additional representation in Congress and additional voice and representation of the people in the House of Representatives,” she said.

Informal and random surveys by a local radio network, Radyo Agong-dxRZ, showed that many residents have been supporting Climaco's proposal. Many of those who joined the survey cited the benefits of the Priority Development Assistance Fund that the new congressional district could get from the House of Representatives.

The Priority Development Assistance Fund 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, mostly infrastructure, health, education and social aid packages, directly touch the lives of district constituents. (Mindanao Examiner)

Proposed new congressional district in Zamboanga City gets popular support

Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 2, 2008) – A proposal to put up a third congressional district in Zamboanga City is getting a lot support from residents, saying, the new funding that goes with it could help develop many poor areas here.

Zamboanga, which has a population of 774,000, is divided into two congressional districts with Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco representing the First District and Rep. Erico Fabian on the Second District.

Climaco, who is on her first term, has proposed to file a bill in the House of Representatives that will create the new congressional district. She said there is a need to hold a public consultation before she could file the bill.

“A new congressional district would give us additional representation in Congress and additional voice and representation of the people in the House of Representatives,” she said.

Informal and random surveys by a local radio network, Radyo Agong-dxRZ, showed that many residents have been supporting Climaco’s proposal. Many of those who joined the survey cited the benefits of the Priority Development Assistance Fund that the new congressional district could get from the House of Representatives.

Each of the 240 members of the House of Representatives is entitled to P70-million Priority Development Assistance Fund annually.

The Priority Development Assistance Fund 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, mostly infrastructure, health, education and social aid packages, directly touch the lives of district constituents.

“A new congressional district will surely bring us more development projects and I am supporting this proposal. Let’s just be careful in choosing our new leaders if ever this proposal will succeed,” said Maritess Fernandez, a businesswoman.

The House of Representatives at present has 240 members and the Constitution provides a maximum of 250 congressional seats. And Zamboanga City is qualified to have three congressional districts.

A constituency with a representative in the lower house of Congress is a congressional district. However, the term congressional district has become synonymous in local parlance as 'representative district.'

A legislative district, which has an average population of about 250,000 to 500,000 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 villages within a city.

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. (Mindanao Examiner)

235 Poor Students Get Scholarship Grants In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 11, 2008) – A Filipino lawmaker granted scholarships to over 200 mostly poor, but deserving students in Zamboanga City in Mindanao island.

Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco and representatives from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) handed over checks to finance school expenses and the allowances of 235 students on Thursday.

Fifteen students were also granted scholarship certificates from the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The scholarship program, Climaco said, is part of her project and included in the solon’s legislative agenda and being implemented through the CHED regional office.

Most of the scholars are students from the Western Mindanao State University, the Zamboanga State Polytechnic College, Zamboanga State College Marine Sciences and Technology and TESDA.

Climaco, a native of Zamboanga City, is an advocate of children and women’s rights and active in humanitarian missions here. She also founded the “Escuela de la Infancia,” and one of the most influential politicians in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

Zamboanga Bridge, School To Undergo Repair

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 8, 2008) – Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat has ordered the renovation of a school building and foot bridge in one of the villages here.

Lobregat ordered the City Engineer's Office to prepare the plans and estimates for the projects in Mariki, a coastal village where a medical mission, spearheaded by Zamboanga City Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco, was held Thursday.

A statement released by City hall said the medical mission was in coordination with the Joint Special Task Force-Philippines and the Philippine military, including the City Health Office.

Lobregat, who joined the humanitarian mission, also ordered the repair of the office of the village leaders in Mariki.

Other projects being implemented by Lobregat includes farm-to-market roads, school buildings, an integrated bus terminal, and housing and resettlement projects, among others.

Same Old Faces Dominate Zamboanga Polls

Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 24 May) – Philippine election officials declared Mayor Celso Lobregat as winner in the recent national and local polls.

Lobregat won by a huge margin to his close rival Chris dela Cruz, a former Catholic priest, who resigned last year to pursue a political career.

Rep. Erico Fabian also won. Vice Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco, who ran for a seat in Congress, was also declared winner.

Councilor Manuel Dalipe has been elected as the new vice mayor of Zamboanga City.

Lobregat, Fabian and Climaco belong to the same political party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP). Both Lobregat and Fabian are serving a second term.

The local Board of Canvassers on Wednesday proclaimed them winners in the May 14 elections. (Mindanao Examiner)