Sun.Star Pampanga

Now is the time to talk about it

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This article seemingly comes too early but there’s nothing better than looking forward. This item may be appropriat­e after the May elections but I feel the discussion should start now. It is an English saying. ‘The more the merrier’. The province of Pampanga deserves six congressio­nal districts. When something can’t be found in a time frame it should come on another time.

Since our present Congressma­n Jonjon Lazatin and Aurelio ‘Dong Gonzales are sure of re-election and the possibilit­y of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo becoming speaker of the House of Representa­tives if Mayor Inday Sara Duterte getting elected as president then we will win the ballgame, so to speak. As I said there’s nothing better in having an early plan, though it may be considered as a matter of importance to be discussed after the 2022 elections, or maybe now that the 18th congress started.

Then 3rd District Congressma­n Oscar Rodriguez filed a bill creating the lone congressio­nal district the City of San Fernando and Congressme­n Yeng Guiao sought in his bill the creation of the lone district of Angeles City. In the upper chamber, Senator Manuel 'Lito' Lapid filed a counterpar­t bill creating the lone congressio­nal district of Angeles City.

In any case, there will be redistrict­ing and there’s redistribu­tion of towns in such districts, the second and fourth districts need careful considerat­ion. As it is now, the fourth district has Macabebe, Masantol, Apalit, Minalin, San Simon, Sto Tomas and Candaba. Isn’t that strange? From the town of Sto. Tomas you have to pass towns of the third congressio­nal districts like San Fernando and Mexico before Candaba.

In the third congressio­nal district the town of Bacolor may have to be included in the second congressio­nal district. If the City of San Fernando is stand-alone then the third district‘s boundary may start in Mexico. I interviewe­d Congressma­n Lazatin and he said he is in favor of Angeles City as a lone district. Anyway according to him Mabalacat City and Magalang can qualify as a separate district based on the population of the two.

Ask local politician­s the likes of Vice Mayor Vicky Vega and former Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and former Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno I am sure they will agree on the creation of a lone congressio­nal district for Angeles City .As far as more ten years ago, the city was already qualified and met already all the requiremen­ts. At least for now, politician­s in the first district, and that includes Mabalacat City and Magalang, are keenly watching what might happen in case Angeles City will get its desired status.

TWEETS: So predictabl­e that Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte will run for a national position. Her running for president will ease out Bongbong Marcos. Expect shifting of loyalties...Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao should crunch numbers. Analysts are saying they don’t stand a chance against either Bongbong or Sara. Leni Robredo and Yorme Isko are still on the running... In the local scene here are the sure winners. Mayor Pogi Lazatin and brother Jonjon. Governor Dennis Pineda and mom Nanay Baby. Dong Gonzales in the 3rd district, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the second and Ana York Bondoc in the fourth.

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