A partylist representative is seeking to divide Eastern Samar province into two congressional districts which aims for bigger representation in the legislature and increased funds for projects in the province.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Partylist Representative Marcelino Libanan filed House Bill 3647 eyeing to split Eastern Samar into two congressional districts.
“Since its creation, the Province of Eastern Samar has only had a Lone Congressional District. But its population has nearly doubled since its creation,” Libanan said.
“The continuous rise in its population has place3d an enormous strain on the Lone Congressional District’s Office’s capacity and capability to serve the needs of its constituents,” he added.
Based on the 2020 Census, Eastern Samar has a population of 477,168 and Libanan stressed that based on the population growth rate of the province, it is expected to balloon to over a half a million this year.
He added that the Constitution requires a population of at least 250,000 in contiguous municipalities to be able to have its own representative and should the measure be approved, the province will be represented by two congressmen and the two congressional district offices.
Libanan said that it “can adequately enhance the representation for and improve the services to its constituents.”
Under the proposed measure, the first district will be composed of Borongan City and the municipalities of Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Julian, San Policarpo, Sulat and Taft.