Tuesday, June 17, 2008 7th district to be created this year
REP. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) said yesterday that Cebu’s 7th congressional district will be created within the year.
“That (House Bill 1306) was already approved by the committee (local government) and will be practically approved in the Senate,” Garcia told reporters.
Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district) announced on Saturday that HB 1306 she authored seeking to divide her district finally passed the committee level.
The new district will comprise Lapu-lapu City in Mactan Island. Cordova town is excluded.
Deliberation
Ruiz said the committee will then submit the bill to the House plenary for further deliberation.
Garcia is backing Ruiz’s bill, saying he is confident it will get the approval of the lawmakers once it reaches the Senate.
If the Senate approves the bill, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will implement it, which will eventually take effect in 2010, Garcia said.
Rep. Garcia’s daughter, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, also supports the bill, saying it will resolve the issue on where Cordova should be annexed.
Representation
“Cordova will continue to remain in the district of Mandaue (City) and Consolacion (town). That means more representation in the Congress,” said Governor Garcia.
The governor’s younger brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) had also expressed his support for Ruiz’s bill.
Pablo John believed the proposal is legally viable and cited a similar issue on Cordova’s annexation.
For his part, Cebu Provincial Board Member Victor Maambong of the 6th district also supports the bill. He said he would rather “commit an error in favor of over-representation rather than under-representation (in the Congress).”
“As we all know the economy of Cebu is actually subsidizing the woes and ills of mismanagement in other areas,” said Maambong. (GMD)
