Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Regular Session

HoUsE BILL No4319

Tntroduced by Hon. Rommel C. Amatong
Second (2™) District, Compostela Valley

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Municipality of Laak in the Second Congressional District of the Province of
Compostela Valley is the largest in the province in terms of land area, covering 40 regular and 15
special barangays and comprising a total land area of 94,706 hectares. This vast territory of the
local government unit somehow affects the efficient and effective delivery of basic services to its
people. The division of this big town into two separate municipalities will pave the way to the
full development of the barangays, particularly those that are remotely situated. This idea is the
inspiration behind the present proposal to create the Municipality of Lorenzo S, Sarmiento to be
composed of eighteen (18) barangays of the Municipality of Laak.

The people of Barangays Aguinaldo, Andap, Anitap, Concepcion, Datu Ampunan, Datu
Davao, Dofia Josefa, El Katipunan, IlPapa, Kidawa, Kiokmay, Malinao, Melale, New
Bethlehem, Sabud, San Antonio, Sta. Emelia, and Sisimon have displayed the ability for self
governance and the readiness to chart their direction as a people. Most of the residents of the
aforementioned barangays are actively engaged in agriculture, producing bananas, coconuts,
fruits, vegetables, corn, palay, and root crops. The area also boasts irrigated rice fields, as well as
areas with potential for rice production, specifically in Barangay Kidawa, the largest barangay in
the Municipality of Laak. Several inhabitants are also engaged in agro-forestry

‘The proposed Municipality of Lorenzo S, Sarmiento is also the home of the indigenous
people, particularly the members of the Dibabawon Tribe, who are mostly concentrated in the
nine (9) special barangays within the jurisdiction of the above-mentioned regular barangays. The
creation of these special barangays into regular barangays will surely redound to the economic
upliftment of these indigenous people, as this will intensify their participation and involvement
in decision-making processes concerning local public needs and how these needs can be met.

The profile of the barangays of the proposed Municipality of Lorenzo S. Sarmiento more
than satisfies the requisites for the creation of a municipality as provided in the Local
Government Code of 1991. Based on the certification issued by the Office of the Provincial
Treasurer, the barangays have a total aggregate income of Php5,088,303.68 for 2011 and
Php3,034,492.73 for 2012. On the other hand, their total population is 25,356 based on the 2010
Census of Population and Housing, and they occupy a total land area of more than 50,000
hectares.

Based on the aforementioned circumstances, and with all the indicators of the 18
barangays’ potential for economic growth, the conversion of said barangays into the
Municipality of Lorenzo $. Sarmiento is warranted and is long overdue.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is eamestly sought.

[EL C. AMATONG


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 431 8

Tntroduced by Hon. Rommel C. Amatong
Second (2") District, Compostela Valley

AN ACT.
CREATING THE MUNICIPALITY OF LORENZO S. SARMIENTO IN THE
PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELA VALLEY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE!

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

SECTION 1. Creation, There is hereby created a new municipality in the Second
Congressional District of the Province of Compostela Valley to be known as the Municipality of
Lorenzo §. Sarmiento. Barangays Aguinaldo, Andap, Anitap, Concepcion, Datu Ampunan, Datu
Davao, Dofia Josefa, El Katipunan, IlPapa, Kidawa, Kiokmay, Malinao, Melale, New
Bethlchem, Sabud, San Antonio, Sta, Emelia, and Sisimon of the Municipality of Laak are
hereby separated from their municipality and shall constitute the distinct and independent

SECTION 2. Seat of the Municipal Government, The seat of government of the

Municipality of Lorenzo ‘miento shall be in the Barangay of Aguinaldo.
SECTION 3. Territorial Boundaries. The Municipality of Lorenzo S. Sarmiento as

herein created shall consist of the territory included within the following boundaries:

Beginning at point marked “1” PBM No. 1, along line of Agusan del Sur and
Compostela Valley (Davao del Norte) at a latitude 8 degrees 00 minutes north,
longitude 125 degrees 40 minutes due east, 36.000 meters to point 2 along

Agusan del Sur and Compostela Valley Province, boundary of Monkayo and
Montevista to MBM No. 6, point 3; thence in a northwestern direction along the
boundary of Montevista and Asuncion to MBM No. 7, point 4; thence in a
southwestern direction along the boundary of Asuncion to MBM No. 8, point 5;
thence in a southwestern direction along the boundary of Asuncion to MBM No
9, PLS 711, point 6; thence in a northwestern direction along the boundary of
Laak (Barangay Longanapan) to BBM No. 11, point 7; thence in a southwestern
direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay Longanapan) to BBM No. 1,

point 8; thence in a northwestern direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay


Langtud) to BBM No. 33, point 9; thence in a northwestern direction along the
boundary of Laak (Barangay Langtud) to BBM No. 24, point 10; thence in a
northeastern direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay Bollukan) to BBM
No. 15, point 11; thence in a southwestern direction along the boundary of Laak
(Barangay Bollukan) to BBM No. 8, point 12; thence in a northwestem direction
along the boundary of Lak (Barangay Bollukan) to BBM No, 9, point 13; thence
in a southwestern direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay Bollukan) to
BBM No. 4, point 14; thence in a northwestern direction along the boundary of
Laak (Barangay Sto. Nifio) to BBM No, 38, point 15; thence in a northeastern
direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay Belmonte) to BBM No. 30, point
16; thence in a northwestern direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay
Belmonte) to BBM No. 37, point 17; thence in a southwestern direction along the
boundary of Laak (Barangay Belmonte) to BBM No. 17, point 18; thence in a
southwestern direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay Belmonte) to BBM
No. 41, point 19; thence in a southwestern direction along the boundary of Laak
(Barangay Ampawid) to BBM No. 6, point 20; thence in a northwestern direction
along the boundary of Laak (Barangay Ampawid) to BBM No. 39, point 21;
thence in a northwestern direction along the boundary of Laak (Barangay
‘Ampawid) to MBM No. 20/MBM No. 62, point 22; thence in a northwestern
direction along the boundary of Kapalong, Province of Davao del Norte, 7,800
meters more of less to point 1, point of beginning, containing an area of 50,000

hectares more or less.

SECTION 4. Creation of the Covered Special Barangays into Regular Barangays.
The special barangays within the jurisdictions of the barangays enumerated in Section | hereof,
which are mainly populated by indigenous people, particularly the members of the Dibabawon
Tribe, are hereby created into regular barangays and shall form part of the territory of the

Municipality of Lorenzo 8. Sarmiento, namely:

(a) Candiis of Aguinaldo
(b) Hinagtungan of Aguinaldo
(c) Libuton of Aguinaldo

(4) Limot of Aguinaldo

(e) Katipunan of Andap

(®) Kinabuhian of Concepcion
(g) Bayanihan of El Katipunan
(h) Kagawasan of IIPapa

(i) LS. Sarmiento of Kidawa,


SECTION S$. Plebiscite. The Municipality of Lorenzo S. Sarmiento shall acquire
corporate existence upon ratification of its creation by a majority of the votes cast by qualified
voters in a plebiscite to be conducted in the barangays comprising the Municipality of Lorenzo S.
Sarmiento and the Municipality of Laak, Province of Compostela Valley, pursuant to Section 10,
Article X of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Section 441 of Republic Act No. 7160,
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, not later than ninety (90) days from

the approval of this Act.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct and supervise the plebiscite.
The expenses to be incurred for holding the said plebiscite shall be charged to the contingency
fund of the COMELEC under the current fiscal year appropriations

SECTION 6. Officials of the Municipality of Lorenzo 8. Sarmiento. Upon the

ratification of its creation by a majority of the votes cast by qualified voters in a plebiscite called
for the purpose, the Municipal Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Members of the Sangguniang Bayan
shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines in consultation with the
Representative of the congressional district affected and with the incumbent municipal officials
of the mother municipality. The officials shall serve and discharge their official functions until
the new set of officials shall have been duly elected and qualified in the next local elections

following the approval of this Act.

SECTION 7. Transfer of Assets and Liabilities. Within a period of six (6) months after
the effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Audit shall determine the proportionate share of

the new municipality in the obligations, funds, assets, and other properties,

SECTION 8, Internal Revenue Allotment Share. During the first year of the
acquisition of its corporate existence, the Municipality of Lorenzo §, Sarmiento shall receive the
Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares of the barangays enumerated in Section 1 hereof from
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Thereafter, the Municipality of Lorenzo S.
Sarmiento and all the barangays comprising it shall be entitled to Internal Revenue Allotment
shares pursuant to Section 285 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local

Government Code of 1991

SECTION 9. Applicable Laws. The Local Government Code of 1991 and other existing
laws governing the administration and operation of local governments shall govern the

Municipality of Lorenzo S. Sarmiento.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause, All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified

accordingly.


SECTION 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved