SP pushes creation of new districts in Pangasinan

By Jennelyn Mondejar

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Members of this province’s board revived a move to create new districts in Pangasinan by passing Monday a resolution creating a committee to study the proposal.

“This redistricting has been there for many years and this time I consulted some congressmen who are receptive to increasing the number of legislative district as the population of the province is already almost three million,” board member Alfonso Bince Jr., author of the resolution, said.

They plan to divide the province into eight legislative districts. At present, Pangasinan has only six districts.

Bince said under the law, one legislative district should have a minimum population of 250,000 residents.

He said the University of the Philippines College of Public Administration has been tapped by the provincial government to study the proposal.

“I think there is no question regarding the redistricting. It is only a matter of what towns will constitute the other districts, the configuration of each legislative district,” Bince said, adding this would be contentious.

He said the third legislative district would likely be the most affected once the redistricting pushes through.

Bince said the measure would be his legacy as a member of the provincial board for almost 30 years.

“There is a need for a serious study on the matter, for redistricting will promote representative democracy and result in economic and social progress,” he said.