BACOLOD City Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of committee on laws and good government, said yesterday he will hold a committee hearing on the proposed creation of a new legislative district in the city.
Distrito clarified that on Wednesday’s regular session, they did not approve but only accepted the proposed resolution of Councilor Ricardo Tan expressing strong support to the bill filed by Representative Greg Gasataya for the creation of second congressional district.
“I just accepted it, and consolidated it with the letter of Gasataya asking for the council’s stand," he said.
Gasataya earlier sent a letter to Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, and the members of the City Council asking their position on the redistricting and to determine if they are still willing to continue the proposal.
In July 2016, Gasataya introduced House Bill 147, which is an act reapportioning the lone legislative district of Bacolod and thereby creating a new legislative district from such reapportionment which seeks to create another legislative district due to its consistently increasing population.
Councilor Renecito Novero said the councilors have different opinions on the redistricting proposal.
“We need to study the proposal first before we can decide,” he said.
Novero added that their decision may depend on the result of the committee hearing of Distrito.
The proposed resolution of Tan will be part of the committee report, he said.
Leonardia earlier said he will form a committee that will study the proposed creation of a new legislative district.
