7th district law now in effect

CEBU, Philippines - Republic Act 10684, which created the Seventh Legislative District of the Province of Cebu, took effect formally yesterday as the Commission on Elections approved the allocation for an additional congressional seat and two additional seats in the Provincial Board for the May 9, 2016 elections.

This was announced by Second District Rep. Wilfredo Caminero who authored the law entitled An Act Creating an Additional Legislative District in the Province of Cebu to be Known as the Seventh Legislative District.

 “Today, it is with great pride that I announced that after seven years and three attempts, the redistricting measure is now a law and a new Seventh District for the Province of Cebu is a reality,” Caminero said.

 Caminero said the new district will bring development in the entire province and gives more representation in Congress.

 “It is my hope that the coming elections will challenge us to choose local leaders who will be able to work as a team for your best interests and who will have the support of the provincial leaders and your new representative in the halls of Congress,” Caminero told residents in the new district.

 The new Seventh District is composed of Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc and Ginatilan towns in the south.

The towns of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan remain part of the Second District.

 Meanwhile, Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. informed Caminero that the Comelec En Banc, in its meeting last September 21, 2015, has approved the allocation for an additional congressional seat and two additional seats in the Provincial Board.

The bill for the creation of the Seventh District was filed twice by then Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia during the 14th and 15th Congresses but they were not passed.

Caminero filed House Bill 3149 on October 16, 2013 with other Cebuano lawmakers, Gwendolyn Garcia, Benhur Salimbangon, and Aileen Radaza, as co-authors.

 The bill, substituted by HB No. 4427, was unanimously approved on May 26, 2014 and transmitted to the Senate on May 28, 2014. The upper house subsequently approved the same on July 28.

 On August 26, the bill was transmitted to the Office of the President of which the President and Aquino approved it on September 18, 2015.

Preparations

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now gearing up for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy next week and the deadline for voters’ registration on October 31.

Comelec-Cebu has asked the police to beef up security at its field offices during this period.

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-Cebu provincial supervisor, said he will make the request formally with the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

He said additional security personnel is important in anticipation of the upsurge of registrants in the last few days of registration, taking account the possibility that candidates might also be bringing along with them throngs of supporters.

“Although wa tay nakita nga problema, we should be better prepared. The chairman also directed election officers to coordinate for security during the last day of registration,” he told reporters.

Also yesterday, Comelec-Cebu announced its schedule of offsite registration.

For Cebu City, offsite registrations are set for October 11, 18, 25, 30 and 31 at Robinsons Cybergate, and for October 26 to 29 at Ayala Center Cebu.

For Mandaue City, the offsite registration will be on October 26 to 31 at the Pacific Mall.

Other local offices were also directed to conduct offsite registration.

Voters’ registration includes reactivation, updating and validation of registration of records, including biometrics.

As of August 31 this year, Cebu has 2,587,314 registered voters in the province, including the highly-urbanized cities.

The ongoing registration will be suspended temporarily from October 12 until 16, 2015 to give way for the filing of the COC’s. —/JMO (FREEMAN)