Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE:
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4670

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to reapportion the Lone District of Aklan into
two (2) congressional districts.

This is a calibrated and attuned version of HB 3860 that
was filed during the 15 Congress and HB 112 that was likewise
filed during the 16" Congress by my predecessors. The proposed
measure dividing the existing 17-town lone district into two
would mean enhanced representation and better governance, but
without violating the standards of proportional representation
and minimum population in the creation of legislative districts as
prescribed in Section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.

Aklan is the oldest province in the Philippines, organized in
1213 by settlers from Borneo, as the Minuro it Akean to include
what is now Capiz. It became an independent province when
President Magsaysay signed into law on April 25, 1956, Republic
Act 1414 separating Aklan from Capiz. Aklan was inaugurated
as an independent province on November 8, 1956. It is now a
first-class province and takes pride of its booming tourist
industry and agro-marine economy.

Modesty aside, in 2013 when I completed my third term as


governor, Aklan ranked first out of 80 provinces in the
Philippines with highest share of local income to total regular
income, with a rating of 45.3%, according to the Department of
Finance (DOF). The Tax Watch Campaign of the DOF also
showed that Aklan, where the country's top prized tourism
destination Boracay Island is located, generated a total income of
P491.755 million out of its total regular income of P1.086 billion,
or 45.3 LSI to ARI share. The uptrend continued in 2014 with a
Php 492.969 million generated income from local sources and
cling as the top LSI earner province.

Aklan has also the fastest growing population in Western
Visayas, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Aklanons have reached 574,823 in number, PSA’s 2015 Census
of Population showed. The population size has increased by
39,098 from 535,725 in 2010 and by 123,509 from 451,314 in
2000. Aklan had an average annual population growth rate of
1.35 percent from 2010 to 2015, according to PSA. More than
half (51.72 percent) of the province’s population are in the
Eastern towns of Kalibo, New Washington, Banga, Batan,
Altavas, Balete, Libacao, and Madalag (297,318), while the
remaining 48.28 percent, or 277,505, are in the Western side:
Numancia, Makato, Lezo, Malinao, Tangalan, Ibajay, Nabas,
Malay, and Buruanga. Following the dictum endowed under
Article 6, Section 5, paragraph 3 of the 1987 Constitution, “each
legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous,
compact and adjacent territory... with a population of at least
250,000 shall have at least one representative”, this means that
the population requirement for the creation of a new legislative
district is religiously met.

The two previous bills of similar import had passed the
legislative calisthenics in the House of Representatives but failed
to gain approval in the last two congresses in the Senate.
Technically, the aim of the creation of a new legislative district
should be the improvement of the delivery of government services



and this is the popular, prevalent and general sentiment and
outlook of Aklanons.

Aklan will have its eight eastern towns (Kalibo, New
Washington, Banga, Balete, Altavas, Batan, Libacao, and
Madalag) that would embrace the first legislative district, and
nine western municipalities (Malay, Ibajay, Buruanga, Nabas,
Tangalan, Makato, Lezo, Malinao and Numancia) would comprise
the second legislative district. That would plunk Boracay island -
that is a fragment of the town of Malay — under the representative
of the new second district of the province.

Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

hy k Co
ENGR. CARLITO “Lio” MARQUEZ


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4670

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE REAPPORTIONMENT OF
THE LONE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF THE
PROVINCE OF AKLAN

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

SECTION 1. Legislative Districts. - The Province of
Aklan shall have two (2) legislative districts to commence
in the next national elections after the effectivity of this
Act.

Henceforth, the municipalities of Altavas, Balete,
Banga, Batan, Kalibo, New Washington, Libacao and
Madalag shall comprise the First Legislative District,
while the municipalities of Buruanga, Ibajay, Lezo,
Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, Numancia and Tangalan
shall comprise the Second Legislative District.

SECTION 2. Incumbent  Representative.- The
incumbent Representative of the Lone District of the
Province of Aklan shall continue to represent and serve
the said district until the new Representatives for the two
(2) districts shall have been elected, qualified and
assumed office.


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

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason,
any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees,
executive orders, proclamation and administrative
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take

effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two
(2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.