Senate OKs bill dividing Rizal’s 2nd district

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to divide the second district of Rizal into three separate legislative districts.

Voting 23-0, senators passed House Bill No. 6222, which aims to split Rizal’s second legislative district into three legislative districts, with the second district retaining the municipalities of Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Morong, Jala-Jala, Pililia, and Teresa.

Meanwhile, the measure will establish the municipality of San Mateo as the third legislative district and the municipality of Rodriguez as the fourth legislative district.

Senator Francis Tolentino, who sponsored the bill as chair of the Senate local government committee, expressed hopes that the measure would “help the local government units involved to better respond to the needs of the people and also help facilitate in the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity building efforts of the province following this pandemic.”

“The call for apportionment is not only based on today’s realities but also a resounding echo from the past, recognizing the unique histories of the towns which have molded and shaped the growth and character of the localities and the residents therein,” he added.

According to Tolentino, the qualifications for the reapportionment have been met given that the new second district has a population of 449,103, the new third district has a population of 252,527 while the new fourth district has a population of 369,222.

Under the Constitution, each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory and a locality with at least 250,000 residents is entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives.

During the bill’s consideration, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard  Gordon,  Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Joel Villanueva requested to be made co-sponsors of the bill.

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