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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
H. B. No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ 
AN ACT REAPPORTIONING THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISCTRICT OF THE 
PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO, THEREBY CREATING THE THIRD 
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Pursuant to Article VI, Section 5, paragraph 3  of the 1987 Philippine 
Constitution, “[e]ach 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.” 
Furthermore, paragraph 4 of the aforequoted provision adds that “[w]ithin 
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.” 
This bill seeks to introduce amendments to Republic Act No. 11243 entitled 
“An Act Reapportioning the First Legislative District of the Province of South 
Cotabato Thereby Creating the Lone District of General Santos City”  to ensure the 
proper representation of the growing number of our fellow Filipinos living in the 
province of South Cotabato in the House of Representatives. 
May 24, 2021
3:32 pm
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First, this bill seeks to ensure the proper implementation of Republic Act No. 
11243. While Republic Act No. 11243 already established the Lone District of 
General Santos City, the incumbent representative of the First District of South 
Cotabato continues to sit and act as its representative. 
Second, this bill seeks to create and establish a third (3rd) legislative district 
in the province of South Cotabato. This proposed third (3rd) legislative district will 
comprise of the Municipalities of Lake Sebu, Norala, Santo Niño, Surallah, and T’boli. 
In turn, the second (2nd) legislative of the province shall then comprise of City of 
Koronadal and the Municipalities of Banga and Tantangan. As of the August 2015 
Census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the province of South 
Cotabato has a total population of 915,289: a total of 302,176 South Cotabateños 
living in Koronadal City and the Municipalities of Banga and Tantangan, and a total 
of 351,023 South Cotabateños living in the Municipalities of Lake Sebu, Norala, 
Santo Niño, Surallah, and T’boli.  
In compliance with the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the proposed third (3rd) 
legislative district of the province of South Cotabato comprise contiguous, compact, 
and adjacent territories. 
The creation of the third additional legislative district will ultimately redound 
to the benefit of our countrymen – to ensure that they are sufficiently represented in 
the House of the people. 
In light of the foregoing, the enactment of this proposed legislation is sought. 
REPRESENTATIVE FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ 


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVS 
H. B. No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ 
AN ACT REAPPORTIONING THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE DISCTRICT OF THE 
PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO, THEREBY CREATING THE THIRD 
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Title. - The title  of Republic Act No. 11243 is hereby amended to 
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read as follows: 
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“An Act Reapportioning the Second Legislative District of the Province 
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of South Cotabato Thereby Creating the Third Legislative District of the 
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Province of South Cotabato.” 
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Section 2. Amendment to Section 1 of Republic Act No. 11243. - Section 1 of 
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Republic Act No. 11243 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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“Section 1. Reapportioning the First and Second Legislative Districts. - 
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The First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato is hereby 
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reapportioned in order to create the Lone Legislative District of General 
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Santos City and the Second Legislative District of the Province of South 
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Cotabato is hereby reapportioned in order to create the Third Legislative 
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District of the Province of South Cotabato. The Legislative Districts of the 
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Province shall now be composed of the following: 
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(a) First Legislative District: 
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(1) Polomolok 
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(2) Tampakan 
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(3) Tupi 
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(b) Second Legislative District: 
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(1) Koronadal City 
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(2) Banga 
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(3) Tantangan 
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(c) Third Legislative District: 
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(1) Lake Sebu 
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(2) Norala 
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(3) Santo Niño 
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(4) Surallah 
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(5) T’Boli 
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(d) Lone Legislative District: 
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(1) General Santos City. 
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General Santos City is separated from the First Legislative District of 
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South Cotabato to constitute the Lone District of General Santos City. 
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Koronadal City and the Municipalities of Banga and Tantangan are separated 
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from the Second Legislative District of South Cotabato to constitute the Third 
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Legislative District of South Cotabato. The Lone District of General Santos City 
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and the Third Legislative District of South Cotabato shall commence in the 
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next national and local elections after the effectivity of this Act.”    
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Section 3. Amendment to Section 2 of Republic Act No. 11243 - Section 1 of 
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Republic Act No. 11243 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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“Section 2. Holdover. - The incumbent Representatives of the present 
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First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato shall continue to 
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represent the Lone Legislative District of General Santos City and the 
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incumbent Representative of the present Second District of South Cotabato 
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shall continue to represent the Third Legislative District of South Cotabato 
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until the new Representatives shall have been elected and qualified.” 
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Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on 
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Elections shall create and issue the rules and regulations necessary for the effective 
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implementation of this Act. 
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Section 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, and 
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other issuance that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.    
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Section 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,••