Friday, July 27, 2007 Bill to restore Lapu voting rights
REP. Nerissa-Soon Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district) wants to divide the province’s sixth district into two.
Ruiz has filed a bill seeking to constitute Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town into the province’s 7th district, with Mandaue City and Consolacion comprising the 6th district.
Lapu-Lapu and Cordova will become a separate legislative district “provided that the voters of the legislative district can still vote for and be voted upon as provincial elective officials of the Province.”
The proposal is meant to answer worries by Cordova officials that they will no longer have representation in the Provincial Board, with Lapu-Lapu City breaking free from Capitol’s administrative supervision.
“Creating a district is an act of Congress and by that bill of Rep. Ruiz, the provision of the Local Government Code that automatically stripped Lapu-Lapu City of its mandate to vote in the provincial election, having earned a new status, becomes inapplicable,” said Department of Interior and Local Government 7 Director Pedro Noval Jr.
“If it becomes a law it supersedes other laws in conflict with it particularly the provision of the Local Government Code,” he said.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy views the proposal favorably.
Sitoy said all that he is concerned about is that if Lapu-Lapu City becomes a lone congressional district, then Cordova automatically ceases to be a member of the sixth district, being not contiguous in territory with Mandaue City and Consolacion town.
The town, he said in earlier interviews, will then lose representation in Congress and the Province.
“Wala koy problema sa bill. Mas maayo nga kaming duha sa Lapu-Lapu City ang sa seventh district kay samtang naa mi congressman naa pod mi kaugalingon nga duha ka provincial board member (I have no problems with the bill. It’s even better because not only will we have a congressman, we’ll also have two Provincial Board members),” Sitoy said.
Sitoy also said that his choice on where to annex Cordova will depend on Lapu-Lapu officials’ reactions to Ruiz’s bill.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza, meanwhile, refused to comment on the provisions of the bill. But, he said it will be up to Lapu-Lapu residents to decide because they were the ones who voted in favor of administrative independence from Capitol.
Noval, however, said creating a new district only needs a public hearing, not a plebiscite.
“Kon dili mosugot ang Cordova or Lapu-Lapu City adto sila mo oppose sa public hearing aron dili mapasar ang bill (If residents don’t approve of the proposal, they should oppose in the hearing so that the bill won’t be passed),” he said.
In dividing the district, Ruiz noted that Consolacion used to be a barangay of Mandaue and Cordova was also a part of Lapu-Lapu. (AIV)
