Friday, January 26, 2007 Diaz: Split stirs supporters By Cris Diaz
(First of Two Parts)
LATELY, expectations are high that the Lone Congressional District in Cagayan de Oro City is going to be divided into two congressional districts before the scheduled May elections this year.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano, (Lakas-Padayon), is excited since the split will certainly increase the city's current Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
"It is advantageous to the City Government since that would mean an increase in the city's IRA. This could also mean more infra and social projects coming," Emano said.
On the political aspect, the division of the city's congressional district will also mean additional representation with the City Council.
At present, there are 12 elective members of the City Council.
With two districts, the City will have two elective congressmen to represent in Congress. With the split, the City Council will have 16 City Council members where each district electing eight city council members. (Art. 94. Manner of Election and Number of Elective Sanggunian Members, (b) Sangguniang Panlungsod, 2, Sec. 3. Local Government Code of 1991)
Congressman Tinnex Jaraula, (Lakas-Padayon), filed the resolution in Congress calling for the division of Cagayan de Oro into two districts. Congress approved the resolution, which the Senate subsequently carried.
When implemented, the political setup is divided into east and west districts with the historic Cagayan de Oro River as the district's boundary.
The west district starts from barangay Carmen up to the rural barangay of Lumbia and down to the coastal barangays of Bulua and Iponan.
Of course, the east district is the other side of the river all the way to coastal and hinter barangay of Bugo.
"The final approval for the implementation of the resolution is now administrative in nature which needs the signature of the President," Emano told this writer.
Thus, with the division of Cagayan de Oro City into two districts before the May elections this year, we expect more than half-a dozen candidates vying for the two congressional seats here.
This will also mean more candidates for the city council as more than a dozen is expected to run in each of the city's districts.
Obviously, the new set up will change Cagayan de Oro City's political scenario making its political atmosphere merrier and exciting!
Once and for all, the ambitious and obsessed supporters and rivals will have their days in the campaign trail as the districts scramble for their candidates.
This early, it can be figured out that the most likely congressional candidates in the west district are former Vice Mayor Antonio Soriano, (UNO-Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino), Carmen Barangay Chair Rolando Uy, (Lakas-Padayon) and incumbent City Councilor Alvin Calingin, (Nationalist People's Coalition?).
At present, the names of these gentlemen are the most visible. For instance, Soriano has publicly announced his intention to run for Congress come May elections. Rolando Uy has been overheard as interested to run for Congress, too.
Alvin Calingin, who parted ways with Padayon is also a material candidate.
However, it is not certain on whether Alvin will run under PDP or join his cousin, Antonio Calingin, who earlier announced his bid for the mayoral post under NPC.
Cris Diaz is adjudged "Best in Column Writing" by the Rotary Club of Metro Cagayan de Oro in 2000. Email: cris_1954@yahoo.com.
