President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Republic Act No. 11546, splitting Bulacan province into six (6) legislative districts, on May 26, 2021. Bulacan has five districts, including the lone District of the City of San Jose Del Monte, which will now be broken down into six districts (seven actually). Because of the growing population, the approved bill seeks to give Bulacan enough and effective representation in the Lower House.
This law takes effect in the 2022 national and local elections.
The said law is controversial because of the timing. We are still in the pandemic, and our lawmakers are already looking forward to the 2022 national and local elections. We now see politicians campaigning for the vacant Congressional District, such as the 5th and 6th Districts. Yes, this is borderline early campaigning, but the Commission On Elections (COMELEC) is not reprimanding lawbreakers.
Why? We don’t know as well. The foul stench of the election season is in the air. We elect the government we deserve. Let’s all be good citizens and vote wisely.
What are the 6 Legislative Districts of Bulacan?
- 1st District – Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Pulilan, Bulakan, and City of Malolos
- 2nd District – Baliuag, Bustos, and Plaridel
- 3rd District – San Ildefonso, San Miguel, San Rafael, and Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT)
- 4th District – Obando, Marilao, and City of Meycauayan
- 5th District – Guiguinto, Balagtas, Pandi, and Bocaue
- 6th District – Sta. Maria, Norzagaray, and Angat
The City of San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) is exempted from the reapportionment of the legislative districts of Bulacan. The city will remain a single congressional district as represented in the Lower House by Rep. Rida Robes, the House Committee on Public Participation chairperson.
Read Controversial AR Sign spotted all around SJDM City draws flak
Who proposed the re-apportionment of the legislative districts of Bulacan?
House Bill 6867 was introduced to re-appoint the province of Bulacan from the current four to six legislative districts. This bill was co-authored by all five lawmakers representing the various areas of Bulacan. They are Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, Gavini Pancho, Lorna Silverio, Henry Villarica, and Rida Robes.
Bulacan solons said the proposed reapportionment of the province complies with the constitutional requirements for creating new legislative districts, including the population requirement of 250,000. “The bill aims to address the lack of representation of Bulacan province in Congress given the population increase since the Constitution’s inception in 1987,” the lawmakers explained.
For the Senate version, Senator Francis Tolentino sponsored House Bill No. 6867 or AN ACT REAPPORTIONING THE PROVINCE OF BULACAN INTO SIX (6) LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS. The following Senators co-sponsored the bill: Joel Villanueva, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Nancy Binay, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Win Gatchalian, and Vicente Sotto III.
Read 7 Notable Philippine Senators From Bulacan — From 1900s to Today
Sources:
- Rosario, B. (2020, August 7). Bill reapportioning Bulacan to 6 legislative districts ok’d on Second reading. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/07/bill-reapportioning-bulacan-to-6-legislative-districts-okd-on-second-reading/.
- AN ACT REAPPORTIONING THE PROVINCE OF BULACAN INTO SIX (6) LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS. 18th Congress – house bill no. 6867 – senate of the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=18&q=HBN-6867.
- Aning, J. (2021, May 28). New Caloocan, Bulacan Districts created; Maguindanao split. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1437975/new-caloocan-bulacan-districts-created-maguindanao-split.
- Ramos, C. M. (2021, March 10). Senate passes bills creating new Caloocan, Bulacan Legislative Districts. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1404989/senate-passes-bills-creating-new-caloocan-bulacan-legislative-districts.
- Felipe, C. S. (2021, March 9). Bill reapportioning Bulacan into 6 districts ok’d. Philstar.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/03/10/2083193/bill-reapportioning-bulacan-6-districts-okd.
- Political Subdivision. Bulacan, Philippines: General info: Political subdivision. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://www.bulacan.gov.ph/generalinfo/politicalsubdivision.php.
- Bulacan congresswoman Lorna Silverio updates followers with New District Division in Bulacan: Politiko Central Luzon. Politiko Central Luzon | centralluzon.politics.com.ph. (2020, October 28). Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://centralluzon.politics.com.ph/bulacan-congresswoman-lorna-silverio-updates-followers-with-new-district-division-in-bulacan/.