Senate OKs three local bills as it opens session after Lenten break

Senate of the Philippines. (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading three local bills, among them redistricting Bataan and another declaring a special working holiday in the province of Aurora.

The upper chamber voted to pass House Bill No. 8664, which seeks to reapportion Bataan into three legislative districts.

Under the proposed law, the first district of Bataan will be composed of the municipalities of Hermosa, Orani, Samal, and Abucay; the second district will be composed of Balanga City, and the municipalities of Orion, Pilar, and Limay; while the province’s third district will consist of the municipalities of Bagac, Mariveles, Morong, and Dinalupihan.

Senator Francis Tolentino, who sponsored the bill as chairperson of the Senate local government committee, said “the additional district will pave the way for a more robust development, furthering progress in the province of Bataan.”

“The additional district ensures a more effective delivery of unparalleled public services, and the Bataan electorate can look forward to a more responsive governance from their elected representatives,” Tolentino added.

The Senate also approved House Bill No. 5944, which seeks to declare April 28 of every year a special working holiday in the province of Aurora to commemorate the death anniversary of Dona Aurora Aragon-Quezon.

Aragon-Quezon is the country’s first official First Lady and campaigned for women’s right to suffrage. Tolentino described her as “an inspiration for all Filipinos to serve the Filipino nation and fight for equality.”

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Sonny Angara and Richard Gordon, current chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), lauded the passage of the bill honoring Aragon-Quezon, who is the first chairperson of the charitable institution.

House Bill No. 5306, which aims to separate Sitio of Ladol from Barangay Poblacion in Alabel, Sarangani, and constituting it into a distinct and independent Barangay Ladol, was also passed by the Senate on third reading on Monday, May 17.

KGA