Recently in the City of Las Piñas, City Councilors Mark Santos and Henry Medina pushed for the establishment of a 2nd legislative district pointing to the growing population, the voice of the constituents, development of the city and other factors, according to a Manila Times news report.
For the newcomers reading this, Las Piñas City currently has one seat in the House of Representatives and its population has exceeded 600,000 since 2020.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from new report of the Manila Times. Some parts in boldface…
LAS PIÑAS City leaders are pressing for the creation of a second legislative district, citing the local government’s growing population and the need for broader representation in the House of Representatives.
City Councilors Mark Anthony Santos and Henry Medina filed a resolution urging Congress to establish an additional congressional district for Las Piñas, a city that has seen significant population growth since it became a city in 1997.
According to the 2020 census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, Las Piñas had a population of 606,293, way above the constitutional requirement of 250,000 residents to qualify for another legislative district.
Section 5, Article VI of the Philippine Constitution provides that each legislative district “shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory. Each city with a population of at least two hundred fifty thousand, or each province, shall have at least one representative.“
Currently, Las Piñas is represented by a single congressional seat despite its population and administrative structure. The city has two councilor districts that are used for electing six city councilors from its 20 barangay (villages), but this bifurcation has yet to translate into additional representation in Congress.
Las Piñas’ journey to cityhood began in 1997 under then-president Fidel V. Ramos, with residents overwhelmingly supporting the change in a plebiscite.
Since then, the city has undergone rapid urbanization and population growth, further strengthening the case for additional representation.
Despite these developments, proposals for a second congressional district have not gained traction until now.
“With the creation of another congressional district representation in the House of Representatives, the voice of Las Pinyeros will be heard in a broader arena,” Santos said as he highlighted the benefits of increased representation.
Medina echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that an additional district could lead to improved public services, increased budget allocations and accelerated development for the city.
He pointed out that the establishment of a second district would allow the city’s growing population to have more direct representation in national governance.
This, in turn, could translate into better legislative focus on local issues, from infrastructure and education to health care and economic development.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you believe it is high-time for Las Piñas City to have a 2nd congressional seat? What do you think is the problem preventing Las Piñas City from having another seat in the House of Representatives?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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