All pending redistricting bills in the House of Representatives are being consolidated before the hearing of the bill seeking the creation of a second congressional district for Bacolod City can be set, Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said on Monday, July 31.
Alvarez chairs the House Committee on Local Government tasked with hearing bills on redistricting.
She said they also have to discuss the criteria on redistricting, which will require a lot of funds, with the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other agencies involved.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya Gasataya filed House Bill 297 in July last year which seeks to create first and second legislative districts for Bacolod by apportioning the 61 barangays comprising the city’s Lone District.
The creation of the second congressional district has the support of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod that has passed a resolution recommending its approval.*