Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by : Rep. Manuel T. Sagarbarria 
Explanatory Note 
Paragraph (1), Section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution states that "the House of 
Representatives shall be composed of not more than two hundred fifty members, unless 
otherwise fixed by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the 
provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila Area in accordance with the number of their 
respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio...” 
Paragraph (3) of the same section further provides that "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.” 
Paragraph (4) of the same section also states that “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.” 
At present the province of Negros Oriental is composed of three legislative districts, 
namely: 
First Legislative District: Canlaon City, Guihulngan City, Municipality of Ayungon, 
Municipality of Bindoy, Municipality of Jimalalud, Municipality of La Libertad, 
Municipality of Tayasan, Municipality of Vallehermoso, and Municipality of Jimalalud. 
Second Legislative District: Dumaguete City, Municipality of Sibulan, Municipality of 
San Jose, Municipality of Amlan, Tanjay City, Municipality of Amlan, Bais City, 
Municipality of Mabinay 
Three Legislative District: Bayawan City, Municipality of Bacong, Municipality of 
Basay, Municipality of Dauin, Municipality of Sta. Catalina, Municipality of Siaton, 
Municipality of Valencia, and Municipality of Zamboanguita. 
July 27, 2022
3:31 pm
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Noteworthy to mention is at the time of the passage of the Philippine Constitution in 1987, 
Negros Oriental had a population of around Nine Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Two Hundred 
Seventy Two (925,272) using the 1990 Census of Population. Today, exactly thirty-five years 
since the 1987 Philippine Constitution was ordained, the population of the province has grown 
by leaps and bounds, in that based on the 2020 Census of Population of the Philippine Statistics 
Authority, Negros Oriental has a total number of inhabitants of One Million Four Hundred 
Thirty Two Thousand Nine Hundred Ninety (1,432,990), or a marked increase of Fifty Four 
Percent (54%). It must be noted that Five Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Six Hundred Thirty 
Two (535,632) of these inhabitants reside in the Second District. 
 
This latest information on the population census of the province, which dates to 2020, 
therefore impress a case of disproportion in the entitlement of the province for proportionate 
representation in the House of Representatives since the current assignment of seats therefore 
does not augurs well with the intent and established standards set forth in paragraph (3), Section 
5, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution. Conversely, Negros Oriental, given the obtaining 
circumstances on its population, is largely underrepresented in the Lower House of Congress 
and, therefore, its interest not fully promoted and protected.  
 
Hence, this proposed bill is designed to address this patent inequity of representation by 
providing for a realistic reapportionment of Negros Oriental with the creation of a fourth 
legislative district. 
 
Fourth Legislative District: consisting Municipality of Amlan, Municipality of Mabinay, 
Tanjay City, and Bais City. 
 
The redistricting of the area will provide the constituents with proper and effective 
representation in the House of Representatives to meet their respective and distinct needs and 
requirements. 
 
Thus, with the foregoing, the immediate consideration and approval of this proposed 
piece of legislation is highly recommended.  
 
 
 
 
 
MANUEL “CHIQUITING” T. SAGARBARRIA 
Representative, 2nd District, Negros Oriental 
 
 
 
 
 
Reference: Philippine Statistics Authority (2022). Household Population, Number of 
Households, and Average Household Size of the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and 
Housing). Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/population-and-housing/node/166426. 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by : Rep. Manuel T. Sagarbarria 
AN ACT 
CREATING AN ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT IN THE PROVINCE OF 
NEGROS ORIENTAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE FOURTH (4th) LEGISLATIVE 
DISTRICT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1: Fourth (4th) Legislative District in the Province of Negros Oriental- 
There is hereby created an additional legislative district in the Province of Negros Oriental to 
be known as the Fourth (4th) Legislative District by reapportioning the current Second (2nd) 
Legislative District to commence in the next national and local elections after the effectivity of 
this Act. Henceforth, the following cities and municipalities shall comprise the Fourth 
Legislative District, to wit: 
1. Municipality of Amlan
2. City of Tanjay
3. City of Bais
4. Municipality of Mabinay
SECTION 2: The current Second (2nd) Legislative District of the Province of Negros 
Oriental, which shall continue to be designated as such, shall be composed of the following 
municipalities, to wit: 
1. City of Dumaguete
2. Municipality of Sibulan
3. Municipality of San Jose
4. Municipality of Pamplona
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SECTION 3: The incumbent Representative of the Second (2nd) Legislative District of 
the Province of Negros Oriental shall continue to represent the said legislative district until the 
new representatives of the Second (2nd) and Fourth (4th) Legislative Districts shall have been 
elected and qualified. 
 
SECTION 4: Rules and Regulations - The Commission on Elections shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
 
SECTION 5: Repealing Clause – All laws, rules and regulations which are inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 6: Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,