Political leaders optimistic of Aklan redistricting

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Will the proposed Aklan redistricting finally get the thumbs-up of senators? It’s anyone’s guess. 

Redistricting supporters said they are just optimistic the Senate will decide the fate of Aklan redistricting this year. 

Former Banga mayor Antonio Maming, who is widely rumored to run for congressman in 2016, is optimistic that the Senate committee will tackle the redistricting of Aklan in time for the filing of certificate of candidacy in October.  

Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Rodson Mayor is also confident that the Senate will decide the issue by August.

The ‘long over-due’ bill to reapportion the lone district of Aklan into two districts is pending at the Senate committee on local government chaired by Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. 

The bill was authored by Aklan Representative Teodorico Haresco, Jr.   in the present Congress. It was transmitted to the Senate on June 4, 2015.

The measure dividing the existing 17-town lone district into two would mean better representation and better governance.

Before the proposed creation of two districts, the province of Aklan has 535,725 based on the 2010 census of population and housing issued by the National Statistics Office.

The proposed bill will have the Aklan, 1st District and Aklan, 2^nd District. The first district is composed of the municipalities of Altavas, Balete, Batan, Banga, Kalibo, New Washington, Libacao and Madalag. These towns have a combined population of 282,395.

The second district is comprised of Buruanga, Ibajay, Lezo, Makato, Malay, Malinao, Nabas, Numancia and Tangalan with a population of 253,330. 

Section 5(3) in Article VI of the Constitution states: "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."

POLITICAL UPDATE

Haresco will likely run for re-election but there are no official pronouncements yet from his political camp. The incumbent Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores still hasn’t officially declared his intention to run for re-election in 2016. 

Former Aklan governor Carlito Marquez and incumbent New Washington mayor Edgar Peralta are among those seen to be running for congressman next year. 

SP member Mayor also confirmed last week he is running for Aklan vice governor in 2016.