TO further bring pace and prosperity, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Lone District Rep. Mujiv Hataman has sought to create a new congressional district following the rapid population growth in the province.

“Dahil hindi tayo tumigil sa ating pagsisikap na makamit ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa ating mahal na Basilan, nabiyayaan tayo ng paglago ng isa sa pinakamahalagang likas-yaman ng ating lalawigan: ang ating mga mamamayan,” Hataman, a former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), stressed. Hataman filed a measure seeking to reapportion the lone congressional district of Basilan into two legislative districts.

“Habang umuunlad ang Basilan dulot ng pinaghirapan nating kapayapaan, dumadami ang gustong manirahan dito at kumukonti ang gustong umalis. Wala nang takot, wala nang pangamba. May seguridad ang kabuhayan at hanapbuhay. Kaya naman malaki ang paglago ng populasyon,” said Hataman.

“At habang lumalaki ang bilang ng mga Basileño, lumalaki din ang pangangailangan sa serbisyo publiko. Kaya napapanahon na para magkaroon ng dalawang kinatawan ang Basilan sa Kongreso upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ito at mas matutukan ang pag-unlad ng mga lugar dito,” he added.

According to House Bill (HB) No. 10407, Article VI, Section 5, Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates that:

“(3) 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.”

(4) Within three years following the return of every census, the Congress shall make a reapportionment of legislative districts based on the standards provided in this section.”

“The province of Basilan is an island province situated within BARMM. It is the fourth largest in terms of land area in the region, and is currently politically subdivided into two component cities and eleven municipalities,” Hataman said in the bill.

“As of May 1, 2020, the total population of Basilan is 556,586 including Isabela City. The same Census indicates that the population of Basilan grew the fastest in the last five years. In terms of annual growth rate, Sulu recorded the highest rate at 4.14%, followed by Basilan (including Isabela City) at 4.12%. Excluding Isabela City, Basilan registered a record high of 4.45% growth rate,” he added.

HB 10407, or An Act Reapportioning the Lone District of the Province of Basilan Thereby Creating the First (1st) and Second (2nd) Legislative Districts of Basilan, proposes the following reapportionment:

First legislative district – Isabela City and the municipalities of Lantawan, Maluso, Hadji Muhtamad, and Tabuan-Lasa.

Second legislative district – Lamitan City and the municipalities of Akbar, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan, Ungkaya Pukan, Sumisip and Al-Barka.

“In keeping with the above-mentioned cases and in consonance with the Constitutionally-enshrined mandate of democratic and proportional representation, the bill therefore proposes to reapportion the province of Basilan into two legislative districts,” Hataman said.

“The bill is envisioned to empower Basileños by ensuring their equal participation and representation in national legislation through their duly-designated representatives,” he added.