Saturday, December 06, 2008 Editorials: Cebu's redistricting woes
THE task of reconfiguring Cebu's congressional districts has become like dividing prime property among heirs with conflicting interests: it is simply difficult.
The only reason, for example, why the bill filed by Rep. Pablo Garcia creating a seventh district for Cebu province has not met stiff opposition is because it does not involve neighboring districts---plus the affected town officials are not complaining.
That's also why the proposal of Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) for a third district in the city may not be realized, as it needs the support of Rep. Raul del Mar and barangay captains of the neighboring north district.
That was also the reason why Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz's earlier proposal for the creation of another district that would involve her area (sixth) and Rep. Red Durano's fifth district failed to fly: the latter opposed it.
Even her other redistricting schemes that involves only her area were stymied by opposition from at least one town, Cordova, under Mayor Adelino Sitoy.
Political goal
Redistricting requires a consensus of everybody involved, but leaders, like congressmen and mayors, join discussions on the matter usually with the primary goal of advancing their own political agenda.
There could actually be logic, say, in Cuenco's split scheme, as having a district solely encompassing the city's mountain barangays could improve the representation of these often marginalized constituency.
But in redistricting, such is not the only consideration.
Piecemeal redistricting
Not much argument has been raised against the idea that Cebu island (province and Cebu City) is ripe for redistricting because of many factors, like population growth, and that better ways can be hatched on how to slice the areas.
But with the current temperament of the island's political leaders, that may not be achieved now, and it is doubtful if that can be achieved even in the near future.
The alternative is piecemeal redistricting affecting only one district, like in the Garcia initiative, or affecting neighboring districts with friendly lawmakers and local government officials.
That, though, is an indictment of Cebu politicians' ability to transcend selfish interests.
