TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines – Rep. Richard Gomez has filed a bill proposing to create Western Leyte province.
In House Bill 11077, Gomez proposed that the cities and towns on the western part of Leyte Island, or the Cebuano-speaking localities, which is distinct from those on the eastern side that are generally Waray-speaking, be constituted into a separate province.
Using Ormoc City as the provincial seat of government, the proposed Western Leyte would be comprised of Baybay City and the towns of Leyte, Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Albuera, Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Merida, Palompon, Bato, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan and Matalom.
These localities belong to the 3rd and 4th congressional districts, with a land area of about 3,000 square kilometers and a population of close to one million.
The Waray-speaking localities, mostly belonging to the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, will be retained for Leyte province. These include Tacloban City and the towns of Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tanauan, Tolosa, Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Jaro, Julita, La Paz, MacArthur, Mayorga, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tunga, Abuyog, Mahaplag and Javier.
The localities under the 5th congressional district would be divided between the two provinces.
According to Gomez’s proposal, the eastern and western parts of Leyte, aside from cultural and linguistic distinction, are divided by geologic structure – the Leyte Central Highland Range between Ormoc and Jaro and the densely forested Mt. Pangasugan between Baybay and the eastern coastal towns.
He argues that despite a road spanning across the mountain, these geologic divides pose challenges for the western populace of easy access to public, health, social and economic services, which are concentrated mostly in Tacloban City in the eastern side.
Critics of gerrymandering, on the other hand, have cited the immense additional funding requirements for creating a new provincial capitol, hiring staff and creating new congressional districts.