HOUSE *F REPRESENTATIVES
FRRECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

514 |

HOUSE BILL NO. |
——

Introduced by HON. ROBERT ACE S. BARBERS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create and establish the 3° legislative district of the Province of
Surigao del Norte.

Article VI, Section 5, par. 3, of the 1987 Constitution provides: “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.”

In paragraph 4, the same provision states: “Within three years following the return of
every census, the Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts based on the
standards provided in this section.”

These provisions ensure that as the population of a province increases, the people are
duly represented in Congress.

Presently, Surigao del Norte has two (2) legislative districts. The 1° is composed of the
nine (9) municipalities of the island of Siargao. These are the remnants of the old 1% district
which originally included the now Province of Dinagat. Presently, this district has a population
of about 120,000. The 2” district is composed of 11 municipalities in the mainland and the
capital city of Surigao. Its present population is about 400,000, with the city carrying almost half
of it at about 160,000,

The proposed 3” district shall be composed of nine (9) municipalities currently included
in the 2” district. These are: Alegria, Bacuag, Claver, Gigaquit, Mainit, Placer, Tubod, Sison,
and Tagana-an. Together they have a total population of about 200,000 based on the 2015
census. The present 2” district will retain the provincial capital of Surigao City and the adjacent
municipalities of San Francisco and Malimono, also with a total population of 200,000, more or
less.

In satisfaction of the constitutional requirement, the proposed 3” district comprise
adjacent, compact, and contiguous territory. There being no population requirement for its
creation, this bill nonetheless gives life to the constitutional mafidate of ensuring due
representation, considering that a substantial number of people, in/this gase, about 200,000,
more or less, will be benefitted by the expected better and mor¢ efficient delivery of public
services.

HON. |ROBERT ACE S. BARBERS
"4 District, Surigao del Norte


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

H.No,__514

Introduced by HON. ROBERT ACE S. BARBERS

AN ACT CREATING THE THIRD LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE

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

Section 1. Third Legislative District of Surigao del Norte - There is hereby created an
additional legislative district in the Province of Surigao del Norte to be known as the Third
Legislative District of Surigao del Norte. It shall be composed of the following municipalities
currently included in the 2 District, namely:

ALEGRIA  GIGAQUIT - TUBOD
BACUAG —MAINIT SISON
CLAVER PLACER = TAGANA-AN

The 2™ Legislative District shall retain the Provincial Capital of Surigao City, and the
adjacent municipalities of San Francisco and Malimono.

Section 2. Rules and Regulations. - The Commission of Elections shall issue the necessary
rules and regulations to implement this Act.

Section 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect Fifteen (15) days after its publication in any
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,