Malolos calls on Congress for new congressional district

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Residents of this city are calling on Congress to support the passage of House Bill No. 655 which seeks to convert this city into a congressional district.

In consultation with the public, Bulacan 1st District Rep. Maria Victoria R. Sy-Alvarado came across residents who do not want to wait for the next congress for this city to have its own congressional district.

“It is high time for our capital city to have its own representation in Congress that is separate from the First District,” a member of the Magpayo family in Barangay Sumpang, here, said.

It will be recalled that Sy-Alvarado first filed a bill to that effect in 2007 using the projected population of the city to reach the 250,000 required under the law in less than five years. It failed to get passed during that time even though in 2010, Malolos saw a population growth of over 250,000.

The bill was opposed by a former Bulacan governor who distributed leaflets that as of August, 2007 the city’s population was only 223,069.

“Wala na sigurong masasabi ang mga pumipigil noon sa pagiging lone district ng Malolos City; mahigit na sa 270,000 and mga residente rito ngayon,” said another resident from the Dela Cruz family, also in Barangay Sumapang Matanda.

Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said those opposing the bill are just politicizing the issue. Former Malolos City Mayor Danilo Domingo also said that questioning and rejecting the creation of a congressional district in Malolos would deprive the city of its right to chart its progress and development.

For Rep. Sy-Alvarado, the time is right, saying: “the city government prides itself with its readiness to meet the needs for the delivery of adequate and essential services catered for social welfare, business and industrial growth, public utilities and responsive governance.”