Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
3878

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. LORNA P. BAUTISTA-BANDIGAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to create the Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta from the Municipality
of Jose Abad Santos in the Province of Davao Occidental. The Municipality of Jose Abad
Santos is presently comprising twenty-six (26) barangays with an estimated population of about
eighty thousand (80,000) in the year 2015 and has a population density of one hundred twenty-
seven (127) inhabitants per square kilometer. Formerly known as Trinidad, Jose Abad Santos
has a total land area of six hundred and 6/100 (600.06) square kilometers. The number of
barangays in the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos are located far between each other and with
the seat of government situated in Caburan and even now, in the proposed Municipality of Don
Mariano Peralta, the distance is some fifty (50) kilometers traversing mostly earth-surfaced or
rough road. While there were some public works projects that are being initiated by the national
government through the Department of Public Works and Highways, the longer stretch of the
proposed road in Municipality of Jose Abad Santos to the proposed Municipality of Don Mariano
Peralta Municipality has yet to be completed.

Because of this condition, the inhabitants of the proposed Municipality of Don Mariano
Peralta which will now be composed of thirteen (13) out of the twenty-six (26) barangays of the
‘Municipality of Jose Abad Santos has yet to experience economic development. More than fifty
percent (50%) of the residents are subsistence farmers and small fisherfolks. For as long as they
can remember, they have not tasted modern amenities and have remained left behind in terms of
education, health service facilities, better standards of electrification services, and poor water
services.

The proposed Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta shall now be composed of the
following barangays, namely: Kalbay, Butuan, Patulang, Sugal, Nuing, San Isidro, Quiapo,
Molmol, Butulan, Camalian, Bukid, Balangonan, and Kitayo.

The desire of this Representation is to help the residents to be more economically
prosperous. It is for this reason, that the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

LOBN&® BAUTISTA-BANDIGAN
Representative
Lone District - Davao Occidental


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BiLLNo. 2878

Introduced by Hon. LORNA P. BAUTISTA-BANDIGAN

AN ACT

CREATING THE MUNICIPALITY OF DON MARIANO PERALTA FROM THE
MUNICIPALITY OF JOSE ABAD SANTOS IN THE PROVINCE OF DAVAO
OCCIDENTAL.

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 Province of
Davao Occidental to be known as the Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta from the
Municipality of Jose Abad Santos.

SEC. 2. Seat of Government. - The seat of government of the new municipality shall be
in Barangay Nuing Proper.

SEC. 3. Territorial Boundaries. — The Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta shall be
composed of the following barangays, namely: Kalbay, Butuan, Patulang, Sugal, Nuing, San
Isidro, Quiapo, Molmol, Camalian, Bukid, Balangonan and Kitayo.

Bounded on the North, the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos; bounded on the East, the
Davao Gulf; bounded on the South, the Sarangani Strait; and bounded on the West, the
Municipality of Glan, Province of Sarangani.

The foregoing provision shall be without prejudice to the resolution by the appropriate
agency or forum of any boundary dispute or case involving questions of territorial jurisdiction
between the Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta and the adjoining local government units
(LGUs): Provided, That the territorial jurisdiction of the disputed area or areas shall remain with
the LGU which has existing administrative supervision over said areas until the final resolution
of the case.


SEC. 4. Plebiscite.— The Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta shall acquire corporate
existence upon the ratification of its creation by a majority of the votes cast by a qualified voters
in a plebiscite to be conducted in the barangays comprising the Municipality of Don Mariano
Peralta pursuant to Section 3 hereof and in the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos, Province of
Davao Occidental within thirty (30) days after the approval of this Act.

The Commission of Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct and supervise the plebiscite.

SEC. 5. Officials of the Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta. ~ Upon ratification of
its creation by majority of the votes cast by qualified voters in a plebiscite, the mayor, the vice
mayor, and the members of the sangguniang bayan shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines, in consultation with the representative of the congressional district and the
provincial governor, and shall serve until the new set of officials shall have been elected and
qualified in the next local elections following the approval of this Act.

SEC. 6. Internal Revenue Allotment Shares. - During the first year of acquisition of its
corporate existence, the Municipality of Don Marino Peralta shall receive from the Department
of Budget and Management the internal revenue allotment (IRA) share of barangays as provided
in Section 3 hereof. Thereafter, the Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta and all the barangays
comprising it shall be entitled to IRA shares pursuant to the provision of Section 285 of Republic
Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991”.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to conduct the plebiscite as provided
for under this Act shall be bome proportionately by the Provincial Government of Davao
Occidental, the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos and the barangays comprising the new
Municipality of Don Mariano Peralta.

SEC. 8. RepealingClause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in

the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,