The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved a resolution recommending the redistricting of the city into two legislative districts during its regular session on Wednesday, July 20.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya filed House Bill 297 seeking the creation of a second congressional district for Bacolod City on June 30.
Gasataya had also filed the same bill in the 17th and 18th Congress but it did not prosper because the Bacolod SP did not pass a resolution supporting the measure.
Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino, who authored the SP resolution in support of Gasataya’s bill on Wednesday, said reapportionment of Bacolod is proper, legal and feasible because of the increase in the city’s population.
Espino said Paragraph 3, Section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, states that each city, with a population of at least 250,000 shall have at least one representative.
The population of Bacolod based on the 2015 census alone was 561, 875, so it qualifies for two congressional representatives under the minimum requirements set in the 1987 Constitution, he said.
Espino said the reapportionment of Bacolod’s 61 barangays into two legislative districts will spur economic growth and development, and give the city more programs and projects.
The First District should be composed of barangays 1 – 31, 33, 41, Alangilan, Banago, Bata, Estefania, Granada, Mandalagan, Monte Vista, Villamonte, and Vista Alegre; and the Second District should include barangays 32, 34 – 40, Alijis, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta
Taytay, Singcang, Sum-ag, Taculing, and Tangub, he said.
There should also be eight Sangguniang Panlungsod members from each Legislative District, he added.*