Comelec: 16 new cities to have 10 council seats

CEBU, Philippines - Following the affirmation of the Supreme Court of the cityhood of the 16 cities, the Commission on Elections has amended a resolution allowing all these cities to field 10 councilors each.

The Comelec en banc, in its three-page resolution promulgated last January 5, amended Resolution No. 8670 “allocation of seats of one member of the House of Representatives; two elective members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, three elective members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and one elective member of the Sangguniang Bayan” in connection with the coming May 10 elections.

The move came after the High Tribunal in its Dec. 21, 2009 decision reversed and set aside its November 18, 2008 decision and declared as constitutional the Cityhood Laws converting 16 municipalities into cities.

 “Whereas, Sec. 3 of Republic Act. No. 6636, mandates that…any other city with more than one representative district shall have eight councilors for each district who shall be residents thereof to be elected by the qualified voters therein, provided that the Cities of Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Bacolod, lloilo and other cities comprising a representative district shall have twelve (12) councilors each and all other cities shall have ten (10) councilors each to be elected at large by the qualified voters of the said cities: Provided, that in no case shall the present number of councilors according to their charters be reduced,” read the Comelec en banc resolution, signed by chairman Jose Melo and the six commissioners.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said they had not prepared the two additional candidates, because of the pending motion for reconsideration of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

Chiong, who is seeking for his second term as mayor, said that they will however add two more candidates to their slate as per Comelec order. Naga, together with Bogo and Carcar in Cebu are among those 16 affected cities.   —Liv G. Campo/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)