MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed laws splitting Maguindanao province into two and reapportioning congressional districts in Caloocan City and Bulacan province. Republic Act No. 11550 creates the new provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, with capitals at Datu Odin Sinsuat and Buluan, respectively.
Maguindanao del Norte roughly corresponds to the old province of Shariff Kabunsuan, whose creation by the Muslim Mindanao regional assembly in 2006 was nullified two years later by the Supreme Court, which ruled that only Congress may create new provinces.
The law requires a plebiscite for the ratification of the division of the province within 90 days.
Duterte also signed RA 11545, which carves the third legislative district out of a portion of the current first legislative district, corresponding to northern Caloocan.
The third legislative district shall be composed of Barangays 178 to 188, covering all of Tala area, the entire Amparo Subdivision, and a part of Camarin.
RA 11546, on the other hand, reapportioned Bulacan’s current five legislative districts into six.
The first legislative district shall be composed of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Pulilan, Bulakan and Malolos City; the second, of Baliuag, Bustos and Plaridel; the third, of San Ildefonso, Saa Miguel, San Rafael and Dona Remedios Trinidad.
The fourth, of Obando, Marilao, and Meycauayan City; the fifth, of Guiguinto, Balagtas, Pandi, and Bocaue; and the sixth, of Sta. Maria, Norzagaray and Angat. San Jose del Monte City has been electing its own congressmen since the 2004 elections.