Duterte signs laws creating 2 new congressional districts

President Duterte has signed two Congress-approved bills creating two new congressional districts in the provinces of Laguna and Aklan.

Republic Act 11077 divides Aklan into two legislative constituencies, while RA 11078 constitutes Calamba City, formerly belonging to the second district of Laguna, into a separate district. Both laws were signed on Sept. 24.

Based on 2015 census, the second district had 937,282 residents, 454,486 of whom were from Calamba City. Laguna now has six legislative territories.

As divided, the first district of Aklan will be composed of the towns of Altavas, Balete, Banga, Batan, Kalibo, New Washington, Libecao and Madalag.

The towns of Buruanga, Ibajay, Lezo, Makato, Malay, where Boracay Island is located, Malinao, Nabas, Numancia and Tangalan will comprise the second district.

Under the two new laws, the incumbent representatives of the second district of Laguna and Aklan would continue to represent their districts until the representatives of the two new congressional constituencies are elected in the next polls in May.

The Commission on Elections was mandated to issue the necessary rules and regulations.

Earlier, the President signed RA 11069 creating an 8th district in Cavite.

It will be composed of Tagaytay City and the towns of Alfonso, General Aguinaldo, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Naic and Ternate City.

Cavite’s other districts are: first (Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario); second (Bacoor City), third (Imus City), fourth (Dasmariñas City), fifth (Carmona, General Mariano Alvarez and Silang), sixth (General Trias City), and seventh (Trece Martires City, Indang, Tanza and Amadeo).

Cavite had a population of 3.78 million, based on 2015 census. It had 1.84 million registered voters in 2016.

According to its website, the House of Representatives is composed of 299 seats, excluding those created by new laws.