THE City Council of Bacolod City has endorsed the proposed reapportionment of the lone district into two legislative districts.
Councilors Caesar Distrito, Em Legaspi-Ang, Al Victor Espino, Bobby Rojas, Kevin Ramos and Diosdado Valenzuela voted in favor of the proposal while Councilors El Cid Familiaran, Catalino Alisbo and Archie Baribar abstained.
Earlier, Mayor Evelio Leonardia requested the City Council to endorse the proposal after he and other key members of the Bacolod City elected officials endorsed the proposal.
The mayor, when he made the request, provided the City Council with the project study submitted by the composite team headed by city administrator Rogelio Balo.
According to the study, the current population map distribution of the lone congressional district of Bacolod City needs to be re-drawn to meet the constitutional guidelines on the make up of each legislative district.
Bacolod, with the population of 499,497 based on the 2007 census, now has a population of 531,942 based on the projected at 2.12 percent annual growth rate.
Thus, the city can qualify to have two legislative districts because its population surpasses the 250,000 minimum requirements for one legislative district.
The redistricting will have an economic impact on the whole community, because the addition of one legislative district for Bacolod City will have a significant fiscal windfall on the whole community.
An additional district fund equivalent to P70 million per annum would definitely provide a jumpstart in the local economy. This amount could even be multiplied five or more times, and be translated into more growth and development in infrastructure, more social and medical services as well as increase in employment generation.