——.:
Mi sppw

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quejon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress

Second Regular Session

8875

Introduced by

HON. DATU ROONIE Q. SINSUAT, SR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, in part, provides that :
XXX

*(3) Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous,
compact, and adjacent territory. Each city with a population of at least
two hundred fifty thousand, or each province, shall have at least one
representative.’

Cotabato City regards itself as ‘the heart of Central Mindanao’. It was
formerly a part and the regional center of Region XII, but due to the
ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2018, it is now part of the
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Being an
independent component city, it is not, administratively, subject to regulation
from the Provincial Government of Maguindanao where it is geographically
located.

Cotabato City remains the commercial hub of central Mindanao. The
strategic location of the city provides it with a natural role as a business and
commercial center for surrounding areas. Because of this, it has become the
fastest growing regional urban center in this part of Mindanao and one of the


fastest growing cities in the Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has
a population of 299,438, making it the most populated city under the
independent component city status.

Notwithstanding these characteristics, Cotabato City does not have its
own representative in Congress and remains included in the First Legislative
District of the Province of Maguindanao along with the municipalities of
Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog,
Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura and Upi.

This bill seeks to separate Cotabato City from the First Legislative
District of the Province of Maguindanao to constitute the Lone Legislative
District of Cotabato City. The establishment of Cotabato City as a lone
congressional district will provide its constituents the opportunity to avail of
resources from the government for their own, in turn bring forth greater
impetus for economic growth. More importantly, the proposed measure is in
accord with the afore-quoted constitutional mandate.

This bill was originally filed by Representative Bai Sandra Sema in the
15", 16” and 17" Congresses, but due to lack of material time, the measure
was never passed into law. It is the hope of Cotabaterios that the time has
arrived for the realization of a long-awaited aspiration.

For the foregoing reasons, the immediate consideration and passage of
this bill is earnestly urged.

HON. DATU ROONIE Q. SINSUAT, SR
1ST DISTRICT, MAGUINDANAO


cEPRE DS
ay
%

HOUSE
saa

“nipes?

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Queson City, Metro Manila
Eighteenth Congress

Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8875

Introduced by

HON. DATU ROONIE Q. SINSUAT, SR.

AN ACT
SEPARATING COTABATO CITY FROM THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE
DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF MAGUINDANAO TO CONSTITUTE
THE LONE DISTRICT OF COTABATO CITY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled :

SECTION 1. Lone Legislative District - Cotabato City is hereby
separated from the First Legislative District of the Province of Maguindanao
to constitute the Lone Legislative District of Cotabato City.

SECTION 2. Incumbent Representative - The incumbent Representative
of the First Legislative District of the Province of Maguindanao shall continue
to represent the City of Cotabato until the new Representative of the Lone
District of Cotabato City shall have been duly elected and qualified in the
succeeding congressional elections from the effectivity of this Act.


SECTION 3. Rules and Regulations - The Commission on Elections shall
issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within thirty (30)
days after the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause - All laws, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)

days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.