Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4678

Introduced by the Honorable Pedro B. Acharon, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Ordinance appended to the 1987 Philippine Constitution provided for the
apportionment of the seats of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the
Philippines to the different legislative districts in provinces and cities and the
Metropolitan Manila Area.

This apportionment sought to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of public service
delivery to the communities through equal representation.

At that time the Province of South Cotabato was under Region XI divided into three
(3) legislative districts with the City of General Santos and Minicipalities of
Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan constituting the First District of the Province of
South Cotabato,

‘The Second District is composed of the Municipalities of Tantangan, Norala, Banga,
Sto. Nino, Surallah, Koronadal, Tiboli and Lake Sebu while the Third District was
composed of the Municipalities of Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba,
Maitum and Malungon.

At the onset of the the creation of the Province of Sarangani in 1992, the Lone
Legislative District of Sarangani Province was also legislated leaving the Province of
South Cotabato with just two (2) districts.

Upon the reorganization of all the administrative regions, General Santos City, the
Provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani became part of the reconstituted Region
XIL

Today, the City of General Santos as the only highly urbanized city in Region XII has
a total population of 594,000 with an annual average population growth rate of 1.91%
from 2010 to 2015 based on the latest 2015 Census of Population and Housing.

In the same Census of Population and Housing of 2015, the Municipality of
Polomolok on the other hand has grown in terms of population from 138,273 in 2010
to 152,789 in 2015 with an average annual growth rate of 1.92% from 2010 to 2015.


The Municipality of Tupi likewise in terms of population increased from 61,843 in
2010 to 69,976 in 2015 and the Municipality of Tampakan from 36,254 in 2010 to
39,525 in 2015.

The combined population of the Municipalities of Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan is
officially pegged at 262,090 as sourced from the Census of Population of Housing of
2015.

This clearly shows that the reconstitution of the First District of the Province of South
Cotabato to be composed of the Municip: Ss of Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan is
in order so as to ensure that they are not deprived of equal representation in the House
of Representatives of the Congress of the Philippines.

Thus the creation of the Lone Legislative District of the City of General Santos is
hereby sought for approval to pave the way for the reconstitution of the First District
of the Province of South Cotabato and give life to the constitutional mandate of
ensuring due and equal representation for all.

HON. PED! SHARON, JR.
Ist District, Provinc¥’ of Soutli Cotabato
and the City of General Santos


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4678

Introduced by the Honorable Pedro B. Acharon, Jr.

AN ACT
CREATING THE LONE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF
GENERAL SANTOS

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

SECTION 1. Lone Legislative District — The City of General Santos is hereby
separated from the First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato to
constitute the Lone Legislative District of the City of General Santos, which shall
commence in the next national election after the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 2. Incumbent Representative — The incumbent Representative of the First
Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato shall continue to represent the
said district until the new Representative of the Lone District of General Santos City
shall have been elected and qualified in the next regular congressional elections.

SECTION 3. Rules and Regulations — The Commission on Elections shall
issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

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

SECTION 5. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two 92) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.