Duterte signs law dividing Southern Leyte into 2 legislative districts

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law reapportioning the province of Southern Leyte into two legislative districts ahead of the May elections.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11198 last Feb. 1. A copy of which was made available to the media on Monday.

According to the new law, the first legislative district will be composed of the capital city of Maasin and the municipalities of Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Limasawa, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus, and Bontoc.

The second legislative district, meanwhile, will be composed of the municipalities of Sogod, Libagon, Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, Anahawan, San Juan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan and Silago.

The law states that the incumbent representative of the Lone District of Southern Leyte shall continue to represent the legislative district until the new representatives of the First and Second Legislative Districts shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Representative Roger “Oging” Mercado is the incumbent Southern Leyte Congressman. /je