Bill seeks to split Eastern Samar congressional district into two

PROGRESS The Eastern Samar capital of Borongan is among the most progressive cities in Eastern Visayas region. —BORONGAN CITY GOVERNMENT PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — Rep. Marcelino Libanan of the 4Ps party-list has filed a bill at the House of Representatives to divide the lone congressional district of Eastern Samar province into two.

Libanan, who served the province as its lone congressional representative from 1998 to 2007, said having two congressional districts meant more development and “improved services” for their constituents.

“Eastern Samar already meets the requirements to have two congressional districts. The entire province deserves stronger representation,” he said.

“A second legislative district would also assure Eastern Samar greater access to much-needed social and infrastructure development funding,” he added.

Of the three Samar provinces, only Eastern Samar has a lone congressional representative in Rep. Maria Fe Abunda.

“The continuous rise in its population has placed an enormous strain on the lone congressional district office’s capacity and capability to serve the needs of its constituents. Thus, the need for an additional representation must be addressed,” said Libanan who is the House of Representatives’ minority floor leader.

The bill was filed by Libanan last Aug. 16 but was only made public last week.

Population growth

Since 1965, when it was separated from the greater Samar province, Libanan said the population of Eastern Samar has nearly doubled.

Under the 1987 Constitution, each congressional district serves no more than 250,000 people. According to the 2020 census, Eastern Samar has a population of 477,168 people.

Based on his House Bill No. 3647, Libanan, who had also served as vice governor of Eastern Samar, said the election for the two new congressmen of the province will take place in the next national and local elections.

The incumbent congressional representative will serve in a “holdover capacity” until the new two congressional representatives are elected.

At present, the Eastern Visayas region, which includes Eastern Samar, has 13 congressional representatives, led by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte, first district), and included four party-list congressmen—two from Tingog Sinirangan, and one each from An Waray and 4Ps.

—JOEY GABIETA 

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