REPRESENTATIVE Anthony Golez will file the bill proposing re-districting of the lone Congressional district of Bacolod City first week of September after he completes documentary requirements from the barangays.
The bill is entitled "An Act providing for the apportionment of the Lone Legislative District of the City of Bacolod." Golez invited city and barangay officials for a consultation on his proposal.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia headed the list of participants in the consultation. Other members of the City Council who also attended were Archie Baribar, Sonya Verdeflor, Caesar Distrito, Roberto Rojas, Em Ang, Carl Lopez, Al Victor Espino, and Catalino Alisbo. Of the 61 barangay captains in the city, 41 were present.
Mayor Leonardia, councilors Alisbo, Ang, Rojas, Distrito, Carl Lopez and Al Espino, and all the 41 barangay captains have signed a manifesto of support for the proposal of Golez.
Councilors Baribar and Verdeflor reserved their approval of the manifesto for further study.
During the consultation, the officials agreed that Bacolod will be divided into two legislative districts to be named as Bacolod North and Bacolod South.
The barangays that will comprise the Bacolod North District include: Barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, Alangilan, Banago, Bata, Estefania, Granada, Mandalagan, Mansilingan, Montevista, Villamonte, and Vista Alegre.
Bacolod South District will include: Barangays 10,11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, Alijis, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Pahanocoy, Punta taytay, Singcang, Sum-ag, Taculing and Tangub.
Barangays that fall within the demarcation line will still decide through a consultation on to which district they will choose to belong. Golez will also call on these villages' chiefs.
The lawmaker said the division will be based on equitable distribution of resources.
Golez underscored the importance of a timeline on the proposal because he plans to file the bill supposedly this month, but because of incomplete documentation, he may file the bill first week of September.
The barangays will come up with a Barangay Resolution on the proposed redistricting and they should submit the resolution on August 27, 2010.
Golez added he wants to act fast on the matter because there are others who will file similar proposals for their respective districts in Congress. He wants Bacolod's proposed bill will be taken up first.
After this bill gains the approval of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, a referendum will be conducted to determine the people's sentiments on the matter.
Bacolod is among the highly urbanized cities in the country and among the biggest political territories outside of Metro Manila. It has a total population of an estimated 531,943 (using a growth rate of 2.12 percent), a voting population of 250,661, and an annual budget of P1.2 billion.
As such, the city has validly complied with all the requirements for its apportionment into two districts under the 1987 Constitution and legal jurisprudence, said Golez.
Mayor, lawmaker okay
Leonardia and Golez, who were perceived having a 'cold war' were spotted in good terms during the consultation of the re-districting bill.
The alleged conflict of the two public officials started with the campaign on dengue, when the lawmaker suggested placing the city under a state of calamity but the mayor declared Bacolod under state of imminent danger instead.
But Leonardia said some people want to fuel conflict between him and the congressman because "those people are not happy with the peace and quiet."
"You know that in peace, there is no money, but there is good business in war and conflict," the mayor said.
Golez also downplayed the issue saying: "the mayor and I are both professionals in dealing with these things. I am a doctor and he is a seasoned city official but we have the same vision for Bacolod." (Carla N. Cañet)