Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Editorials: Splitting the sixth district
SO A bill that would have the effect of altering the districting pattern in Cebu province is moving in Congress?
Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz finally decided to make it simple: make Lapu-Lapu City a separate district, with Mandaue, Cordova and Consolacion comprising the other one.
Or at least that’s what Ruiz’s House Bill (HB) 1306 wants, a proposal that in turn has been approved by the local government committee of the House of Representatives.
That the redistricting proposal is starting to move is good news for those favoring it, although there’s still a long and probably bumpy way before the bill becomes a law.
Solution
HB 1306 is supposed to solve the dilemma created by Lapu-Lapu becoming a highly urbanized city, but unfortunately for Ruiz the situation is not that simple.
But then again, the difficulty did present itself even when Ruiz was still finding ways to split the district, the reason why various setups were presented and rejected.
Among the proposals: Lapu-Lapu paired with Cordova town, Mandaue paired with Lapu-Lapu; Cordova attached to Cebu City, etc.
Criticism
Proof that the dilemma has not been overcome is Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, who immediately labeled HB 1306 as “politically immoral and a proof of incompetence.”
Sitoy argued that the bill is unfair to Mandaue, which is bigger than Lapu-Lapu at least in terms of population and is thus more qualified to become a separate district.
That should prod Mandauehanons to take a closer look at the bill’s logic.
And Consolacion folk, too.
(Of course, Lapu-Lapu officials welcomed HB 1306 as they will surely do other districting variations; their city will become a congressional district no matter what.)
Concrete move
Still, one should give it to Soon-Ruiz for pushing for a bill of whatever variation that would solve the dilemma posed by Lapu-Lapu’s change of status.
At least the debate on the future of the sixth district will be based on something done in Congress instead of merely floating around in local media.
Hopefully, a solution acceptable to the majority could be had even as HB 1306 moves through the usual legislative path and is being subjected to a debate.
