House OKs creation of Aklan's two districts, now in Senate hands
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 3860, a measure that seeks for the creation of two congressional districts for Aklan.
Rep. Florencio Miraflores (Lone District, Aklan) filed the measure for the reapportionment of the lone legislative district of Aklan last year.
The proposed legislative measure has been endorsed to the Senate on February 2 this year for deliberations by the Senate Committee on Local Government chaired by Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr.

Miraflores, a former three-termer Aklan Governor and now in his third-term as congressman, is the chairperson of the committee on tourism, vice chairperson of the committee on accounts and member of the House committees on appropriations, energy, local government, ways and means, natural resources, science and technology.

The bill, which replaced House Bill 1006, was filed by Miraflores on December 12, 2010. The plenary approved on second reading the Committee Report No. 427 of the committee on local government chaired by Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz on January 19, 2011.
The proposed re-districting of the lone district of Aklan was subsequently approved by members of the 15th Congress with 219 affirmative votes, no negative votes and no abstentions, during the plenary session on January 31, 2011.

In the Congress Journal No. 52 stated, "On successive motions of Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, there being no objection, the Body proceeded to the approval on Third Reading of the following House Bills, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on January 24, 2011, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the Rules of the House, Item No.2, House Bill No. 3860, entitled: “An Act Providing for the Reapportionment of the Lone District of the Province of Aklan."

'REAPPORTIONMENT'

Aklan province, composed of 17 towns, has a 2007 Census population of 495,122 and a projected 2010 population of 522,179.
Under Section 5(3), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, each congressional district created by Congress, must be supported by a minimum population of at least 250,000.

The Lower House is also mandated to reapportion the legislative districts within three years following the return of every census. Since its restoration in 1987, no general apportionment law has been passed, despite the publication of four censuses in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2007.

Unlike the creation of local government units which is ratified in a plebiscite, the reapportioning or redistricting may be done by Congress to ensure equal representation, subject to constitutional requirements.

Once concurred by Senate and made into law with the signing of President Benigno Simeon 'Noynoy' Aquino III, the redistricting of Aklan would mean bigger share of national services and resources through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and stronger representation in the Congress with two legislators.

The redistricting will take effect fifteen days following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Last year, the chamber under Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. also approved the creation of new districts in Maguindanao (2007 NSO census, 822,039), Iloilo City (2007 NSO census, 418,710) and Bacolod City (2007 NSO census, 499,497).