Malolos conversion into congressional district seen

MALOLOS, Philippines – A proposal seeking to convert this city into a congressional district has been passed in the committee level of the House of Representatives.

The proposal was authored by Bulacan first district Rep. Marivic Alvarado, wife of Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado.

Malolos is part of the first district, which also includes the municipalities of Pulilan, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong and Bulakan.

Alvarado said his detractors opposed the bill, but since he became a member of the Liberal Party the proposal gained support from his allies.

He said the next step would be to submit the bill to the plenary session, and eventually to the Senate.

If the Senate approves the proposal, Malolos will become Bulacan’s sixth congressional district.

The conversion will earn Malolos additional congressional fund for its development projects, he said.

If the bill is signed into a law before the 2016 elections, a separate election for the congressional representative of Malolos may be included in the national and local elections.

If the passage is done after the ballots for the 2016 elections are printed, Alvarado said the Commission on Elections could order a special election for the congressional district of Malolos.