Lazatin files bill to defer barangay polls

After months on the backburner, the Charter change debate gets a new lease on life with the proposal by an administration congressman to synchronize the barangay polls with the election of members of a constitutional convention.

In House Bill 1876, Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin said the barangay polls scheduled for October should be moved to next year and held simultaneously with the election of con-con members.

“Excessive spending for two nationwide elections within six months will spoil the country’s economic recovery,” Lazatin said in pushing for the postponement of the barangay elections.

“For such an election, the Commission on Elections is expected to spend from P2.8 billion to P3.3 billion,” Lazatin said. The country held its last elections on May 14.

Attempts by administration allies in Congress to amend the Constitution met strong resistance from opposition lawmakers and various sectors, which argued that they were meant to keep President Arroyo in power beyond 2010. After a Supreme Court rebuff, top Cha-cha proponent Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. decided to shelve the plan but did not commit to abandon it for good.

Lazatin said HB 1876 “seeks to heed the clamor for a constitutional convention beyond the influence of partisan bias and to instigate change that will lead to the necessary amendment of certain provisions of the Philippine Constitution.”

Lazatin said his bill, titled “An act calling for the Organization of the Constitutional Convention and Postponement of the 2007 Barangay Elections,” also aims to “make necessary changes in policies for the improvement of over-all system of government.”

He stressed that he is “not particularly clamoring for a parliamentary form of government but for the reform of government system for the economy.”

He said that “economic reform and democracy are highly connected since strong political institutions are vital to accomplishing development.”

Lazatin also filed HB 1776 seeking the designation of Angeles City as a congressional district.

At present, Angeles is part of Pampanga’s first district which also includes the towns of Mabalacat and Magalang.

“This is the proper time to separate Angeles City from the towns of Mabalacat and Magalang since the population requirement set by the law has been met,” Lazatin, a three-term Angeles City mayor, said.

Data from the Population Commission regional office indicate that as of 2006, Mabalacat and Magalang had a combined population of 370,017. This, he said, would be enough for the towns to comprise one district entitled to one congressman and separate from Angeles.

Angeles City population, he said, stands at 308,176. “The required population to qualify for an independent legislative district under the Constitution is 250,000,” he said.

He said he had in fact opposed a similar bill filed in 2004 by his predecessor Francis Nepomuceno because the combined population of Magalang and Mabalacat back then was only slightly more than 248,000. Nepomuceno is now Angeles City mayor.

Lazatin said Angeles City and the two towns would greatly benefit economically if they become separate districts.

“The lone district bill will also better prepare Angeles City for the continuous improvement and booming industries at Clark Freeport and the full development of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport,” he added.