Duterte signs law making GenSan a separate legislative district

General Santos City. WIKIPEDIA MAP

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure creating the lone congressional district of General Santos City in the province of South Cotabato.

Duterte signed on March 11 Republic Act 11243, or An Act Reapportioning the First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato, thereby creating the Lone Legislative District of General Santos City. A copy of the law was released to media on Wednesday.

General Santos City, an independent and highly-urbanized locality, is presently part of the province’s first district. With the signing of the law, the city will now represent the province’s third legislative district.

Under the new law, the legislative districts of the province shall now be composed of:

First Legislative District:
-Polomok
-Tamapakan
-Tupi

Second Legislative District:
-Koronadal City
-Banga
-Lake Sebu
-Norala
-Santo Niño
-Surallah
-Tantangan
-T’Boli

Third District Legislative District:
-General Santos City

The incumbent representatives of the present First and Second Legislative District of South Cotabato shall continue to represent the districts until the new representatives have been duly elected and qualified, the law states.

The Commission on Elections is also mandated by the law to “issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act within thirty (30) days after its effectivity.” /cbb