Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES #/>
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Quezon City
16" Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 129

Introduced by Reps. RANEO E. ABU, 2” District, Batangas;
MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA, 4" District, Batangas;
SONNY P. COLLANTES, 3” District, Batangas; and
EILEEN ERMITA-BUHAIN, 1* District, Batangas

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create a separate Congressional District for Batangas
City, the capital of the Province of Batangas

The creation of a separate Congressional District for Batangas City
complies with the mandate set forth by the Constitution, Article VI, Section 5,
paragraph 3 of the 1987 Constitution, provides:

“Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as
practicable, continuous, 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.”
(Emphasis supplied)

With 105 Barangays occupying a land area of 27,686.73 hectares,
Batangas City is the home of 295,231 persons based on the 2007 Census of
Population as declared official by the President of the Philippines under
Proclamation No. 1489 dated April 16, 2008. Considering the City’s annual
population growth and inward migration, the City’s population today should be
approximately 350,000.


Based on National Statistical Coordination Board, registered voters of
the 2 Legislative District of Batangas as of May 2010 was 346,715. In May
13, 2013 Elections, 237,178 actually voted.

Batangas City, or Lungsod ng Batangas, was founded and named
Batangan in 1581 by Spanish missionaries. It was formally declared a City on
July 23, 1969 pursuant to Republic Act No. 5495, otherwise known as the
“Charter of Batangas City”

Batangas City is the largest and the Capital city of the Province of
Batangas. Known as the “International Port City of South Luzon”, it is
classified as one of the fastest urbanizing cities in the Philippines.

Since its proclamation as a City on July 23, 1969, Batangas City has
become the economic focal point of trading, commercial and industrial
activities in Southern Luzon. It is presently classified as a Regional Growth
Center and identified as one of the sites for the Regional Agro-Industrial
Center and Special Economic Zones as mandated by the Medium Term
Philippine Development Plan and the Ecozone Act of 1995. Batangas City is
also one of the nation’s top revenue generating cities. In 2009, Batangas
City had an Annual Budget of P1,236,418,599.55. It hosts the Pilipinas Shell
Corporation, one of the biggest oil refineries in the Philippines which can
produce 250,000 barrels per day. With Caltex, Batangas City is the source of
60% of the country’s fuel requirements. It is also hosting the first three (3)
power plants using natural gas, namely: Kepco llijan, San Lorenzo and Sta.
Rita of First Gas with a combined capacity of 2,700 Megawatts that supply
50% power requirements of Metro Manila. Located 99 kilometers South of
Manila, Batangas City has one of the best natural harbors, and was deciared
as International Port, and the start of Philippine Nautical Highway. Batangas
City is also the source of 25% supply of fish and marine products, 30% of
eggs and 20% of chicken and pork, for Metro Manila.


Considering the Constitutional mandate in Article VI, Section 5,
paragraph 3 of the 1987 Constitution, the population of Batangas City more
than qualifies to be a separate Congressional District and it has the right to
have its own Representative. After the separation, the Second Congressional
District of the Province will still continue to meet the Constitutional
requirements to be represented in Congress.

This Bill was already approved by the House of Representatives on
May 16, 2011, and was transmitted to and received by the Senate on May 24,
2011.

presentative
2" District, Batangas

ie oe 2 Ci EILEEN ERMITA-BUHAIN
Representative Representative
3" District, Batangas 4® District, Batangas


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

16" Congress

First Regular Session
House BillNo. 1.29 _

Introduced by Reps. RANEO E. ABU, 2™ District, Batangas;
MARK LLANDRO L. MENDOZA, 4" District, Batangas;
SONNY P. COLLANTES, 3” District, Batangas; and
EILEEN ERMITA-BUHAIN, 1 District, Batangas

AN ACT SEPARATING
FROM THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
OF THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS TO CONSTITUTE THE
LONE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF BATANGAS

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

SECTION 1. Lone Legislative District. - The City of Batangas is
hereby separated from the Second Legislative District of the Province of
Batangas to constitute the Lone Legislative District of the City of Batangas
which shall commence upon the effectivity of this Act.

SEC.2. Incumbent Representative. - The incumbent
Representative of the Second Legislative District of the Province of Batangas
shall continue to represent the said district until the new Representative of the
Lone Legislative District of the City of Batangas shall have been elected and
quaiified.


SEC. 3. Rules and Regulations. — The Commission on Elections

shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.
SEC.4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified

accordingly.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation

APPROVED,