HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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Introduced by Honorable Jerry P.
Trefias__

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill, secks to reapportion the lone legislative district and the San;
Panlungsod of the City of Hloilo.

lloilo City was formally declared a city in 1936 by virtue of Commonwealth Act Number
, otherwise known as the “Charter of Iloilo City.” Since its enactment, the Iloilo City chart
s been amended four times, by Commonwealth Act Nos. 158 and 604, and Republic Act No
6 and 1209,During the 15 Congress of the House of Representatives, I authored House Bi
No, 3474 which aimed to redistrict Hoilo City into two Congressional Districts, It was passed on
third and final reading by the Housé of Representatives but the Senate failed to pass it before the
end of the’ 15" Congress.

The Lone District of Hoilo, City is composed of the city districts of Jero, Lapaz,
Mandurriao, Molo, Arevalo, City Proper and the sub-district of Lapuz. This bill proposes the
Lone District of Iloilo City to be divided into two legislative districts, namely: (a) the First
legislative district which is to be composed of Jaro, Lapaz and Mandurriao; and (b) the Second
legislative district which is to be composed of City Proper, Molo, Arevalo and Lapuz.

The addition of another legislative district in Hoilo City is not only necessary but long
overdue, It is about time that Iloilo City, which has long been acknowledged as the cultural
commercial, academic, religious and governmental center in Western Visayas, gets another
legislative district, Other “Commonwealth-era” cities like Manila, Cebu, Davao and Zamboanga
already have multiple districts.

Dy We OW Wty ty eto

SESRRERKSRESLRSR

40
41 The creation of a second Legislative District of Loilo City complies with all. the
42 parameters set forth by the Constitution. The Supreme Court held, in the recent case of Aquino
43 vs, COMELEC, that “Section 5(3), Article VI of the Constitution requires a city to have a

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minimum population of 250,000 to be entitled to a representative, it does not have to increase its
population by another 250,000 to, be entitled to an additional district.”'Based on the latest

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“Aquino,et al. vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 189793 (April 7, 2010).

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Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) National Census (2015), the City of Iloilo has a population
of 447,992? . 4

There is no exact number of additional inhabitants dictated by law that is necessary to
create a new legislative district in a city. Considering that progressive cities in the country have
been granted additional legislative districts, and taking to account that Congress may pass laws
for the reapportionment of legislative districts", the reapportionment of the lone district of Hoilo
City is in order.

Moreover, the allocation of two legislative districts for a city with a population of less
than $00,000 is not without precedence. The Supreme Court allowed the City of Makati to have
two legislative districts despite having a population of 450,000.* The High Tribunal explained
that a city with a population of 250,000 is entitled to at least one representative, but an additional
population of 250,000 is not necessary in order for the city to gain an additional legislative
district. .

It must also be noted that the City of Marikina was granted two legislative districts
Republic Act 9364 was passed in 2006, which reapportioned Marikina City into two new
legislative districts.’ The combined population of the two legislative districts is only 424,150

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is highly and earnestly etommended

. [[RENAS

? Latest PSA data as of August 1, 2015 based on the 2015 Census, accessible at
hito://osa.gov.oh/content/highlights-ohilippine-oopulation-2015-census-oodulation {released on May 19, 2016)
* As held in Tobias vs, COMELEC, G.R. No. 144783 (December 8, 1994).

“Mariano, Jr. vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 118577 (March 7, 1995}

"Republic Act 9364 (December 15, 2006)



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 1219

Introduced by HonorableJerry P. Trefias

" AN ACT
REAPPORTIONING THE LONE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT AND THE
SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF THE CITY OF ILOILO

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

Section 1. Legislative Districts. - The City of Iloilo shall have two (2) legislative
districts to commence in the next national elections after the effectivity of this Act. Henceforth,
all barangays comprising the city districts of Jaro, namely, the forty-two barangays of: Arguelles,
Balabago, Balantang, Benedicto, Bito-on, Buhang, Buntatala, ‘Calubihan, Camalig, CC El 98,
Cuartero,” Cubay, Democracia, Desamparados, Dungon-A, Dungon-B, Fajardo, Fatima,
Javellana, Lanit, Lopez Jaena, Luna, Lady of Lourdes, Maria Cristina, M.H, Del Pilar,
‘Montinola, M.V. Hechariova, Sambal, San Isidro, San Jose, San Pedro, San Vicente, San Roque,
Seminario, Simon Ledesma, Sta. Isabel-Libertad, Tabue Suba, Tacas, Tagbac, Taytay Zone Il,
Quintin Salas, and’ Ungka; Lapaz, comprising of the twenty-five barangays of Aguinaldo,
Divinagracia, Rizal, Jereos, Burgos, Gustilo, Hinactacan, Banuyao, San Isidro, Ticud, Ingore,
Caingin, Magdalo, Mac Arthur, San Nicolas, Railway, Tabue Suba, Baldoza, Nabitasan, Bantud,


Luna, Magsaysay Village, Lopez Jaena Sur, Lopez Jaena Norte, and Laguda; and Mandurriao,
composed of the following eighteen barangays: Airport, Bakhaw, Bolilao, Calahunan, Dungon
C, Guzman, Hibao-An Norte, Hibao-An Sur, Nava-is, Onate De Leon, Pali, PHHC Block 17,
PHHC Block 22 NHA, Q. Abeto, San Raffel, Sta, Rosa, Tabucan, and Taft North, shall compose
the first district, while all barangays comprising City Proper, comprising of the forty-five
barangays of: Arsenal Aduana, BaybayTanza, BonifacioTanza, Concepcion-Montes, Danao, Ed
Ganzon, Flores, General Hughes-Montes, Gloria, Hipodromo, Inday, Jalandoni-Bagumbayan,
Jalandoni Wilson, Kahirupan, Kauswagan, Legaspi Dela Rama, Liberation, Magsaysay, Mabolo
Delgado, Malipayon-Delgado, Maria Clara, Monica Blumentritt, Muelle Loney-Montes, Nonoy,
Ortiz, Pres. Roxas, Osmefia, Rima Rizal, Rizal Estanzuela, Rizal Ibarra, Rizal Palapala I, Rizal
Palapala Il, Roxas Village, Sampaguita, San Agustin, San Felix, San Jose, Santo Rosario-Duran,
‘Tanza-Esperanza, Timawa Tanza I, Timawa Tanza II, Veterans Village, Villa Anita, Yulo-
Arroyo, and Zamora-Melliza; Mold, inclusive of the twenty-five barangays of! Avancefa,
Boulevard, Calumpang, Cochero, Compania Central, East Baluarte, East Timawa, Infante,
Kasing-Kasing, Katinglingban, North Baluarte, North Fundidor, North San Jose, Poblacion,
Salvacion Habog-Habog, San Antonio, San Juan, San Pedro, South Baluarte, South Fundidor,
South San Jose, Taal, Tap-oc, West Habog-Habog, and West Timawa; Arevalo, composed of the
thirteen barangays of: Bonifacio, Calapran, Dulonan, Mohon, Quezon, San Jose, Santa Felomina,
Sooe, Santa Cruz, Santo Domingo, Santo Nino Norte, Santo Nino Sur, and Yulo Drive; and
Lapuz, inclusive of the following twelve barangays: Lapuz Norte, Loboc, Lapuz Sur, Progreso,
Mansaya, Libertad, Jalandoni Estate, Bo. Obrero, Sinikway, Don Esteban, Punong, and Alalasan;
shall compose the second district.

Section 2. The SangguniangPanlungsod, — The Sangguniang Panlungsod, the
legislative body of the City, shall be composed of the city vice mayor as the presiding officer, the
sangguniang panlungsod members from each district, composing of seven (7) members per
district, who shall be elected in the district where they reside, the president of the city chapter of
the liga ng mga barangay, the president of the panlungsod na pederasyon ng mga sangguniang
kabataan and other sectoral representatives, as members.

Section. 3. Incumbent Representative and SangguniangPanlungsod Members. — The
incumbent representative and sangguniang panlungsod members of the City of Iloilo shall


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continue to hold office until the new representatives and sangguniang panlungsod members of
the City shall have been elected and qualified.

Section 4. Rules and Regklations.— The Commission on Elections shall issue the
necessary-rules and regulations to implement this Act,

Section 5.Separability Clause, If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting

Section 6. Repealing Clause, — The provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 57, as
amended by Commonwealth Act Nos. 158 and 604, Republic Act Nos, 276 and 1209 and all
other laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly,

Section 7. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the
Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved,