Camarines Sur Redistricting Opposed

NAGA CITY -- A bill filed by Camarines Sur Second District Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte creating five congressional districts for the province is still facing opposition, now in its last leg of deliberation in the Senate.

Reportedly, the Senate will be voting for the passage of the bill in a plenary session set before the end of the month, a mayor from Cam. Sur's first district revealed.

In the latest deliberation of the bill at the Senate Committee on Local Government, chaired by Senator Benigno "Nonoy" Aquino III, the Congressman's son, Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte had opposed the passage of the bill, citing a resolution passed by the Camarines Sur Sangguniang Panlalawigan and other resolutions allegedly by the Cam. Sur League of Municipalities and Barangay officials.

However, First District Minalabac town Mayor Gil Basmayor contradicted Gov. Villafuerte's claim, saying the recent meetings of the League of Mayors did not endorse any resolution opposing the bill.

Reportedly, the prime objection of the governor, as earlier cited by his allies in the provincial board, is the alleged required number of population, at 250,000 to create a congressional district.

Meanwhile Basmayor also noted that in the first and second districts, only San Fernando Mayor Fermin Mabulo did not support the bill, while all the other mayors supported it.

Earlier, 4^th district of Cam. Sur representative Felix "Nancing" Alfelor Jr. cited that it was about time to create another district in Cam. Sur with the population of the province growing by more than 1.6-Million; he added that the new district will receive another P 70-Million in priority development fund.

In the proposed redistricting bill, the remaining towns in the new first and second districts affected by the created fifth district will receive a total of P 210-Million from a previously allotted P 140-Million in congressional funds, Basmayor also said.

The new first district would be comprised by the towns of Ragay (Budget Sec. Andaya's hometown), Del Gallego, Lupi, Sipocot, and Cabusao with a total population of some 190,000; the second  district would be composed by the towns of Libmanan, Pamplona, Pasacao, San Fernando, Minalabac, Milaor and Gainza.

While the new 3^rd district, represented by Congressman Villafuerte, will be Naga City, Canaman, Magarao, Bombon, Calabanga, Ocampo, Pili and Bula towns.

The composition of the towns in the new fourth and fifth districts will be retained with both districts respectively represented by Congressman Arnulfo Fuentebella and Congressman Alfelor.

(SONNY SALES)