New district looms in Oriental Mindoro

CITY OF CALAPAN—More leaders in Oriental Mindoro have joined the clamor to create a third congressional district in the province.

The Oriental Mindoro provincial board is now deliberating on a resolution urging the province’s two congressmen to file a bill to create the new district, said resolution author Board Member Ramil Dimapilis.

House Bill No. 4570, which aims to carve a new district out of the province’s first district, has been pending at the House of Representatives for four months.

The bill, authored by first district Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, has the support of second district Rep. Rey Umali.

The resolution urging the congressmen to file a measure to create the new district also has the support of Gov. Alfonso Umali Jr., the congressman’s brother, and Vice Gov. Humerlito Dolor, said Dimapilis.

Dimapilis said a new district would mean “additional voice to represent Oriental Mindoro in the House of Representatives.”

Proponents of the new district said the proposed new district meets the population requirement for a congressional district—250,000 people. In 2007, according to government data, Oriental Mindoro has a population of 750,000 sharing a land area of 4,364 square kilometers.

The population is the highest among the five provinces in Mimaropa. By the end of 2011, the population of the province is expected to reach 767,445, said a report quoting the National Statistics Office.

Dimapilis said the law now allows Oriental Mindoro to propose a new district since under the Constitution, Congress can reapportion legislative districts within three years following every census.

The province’s first district consists of Calapan City, Baco, San Teodoro, Puerto Galera, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola. The second district is composed of the towns of Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bongabong, Bansud, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao.

Under the bill, the new legislative district will be composed of the towns of Naujan, Victoria, Socorro and Pola.

Governor Umali said he hoped Congress would act soon on the proposal as a third district would mean “more funds for the province.”

Representative Umali also said he believed in the viability of a new district bringing in more development to his province.

Valencia said he was also hopeful that the House of Representatives would pass the bill this year and for the measure to reach the Senate by January next year.

First District:

Puerto Galera

San Teodoro

Calapan City

Baco

Third District:

Naujan

Victoria

Socorro

Pola

Second District:

Pinamalayan

Gloria

Bansud

Bongabong

Roxas

Mansalay

Bulalacao