Two Basilan districts eyed
A measure that seeks to split the lone congressional district of Basilan into two legislative districts was filed in the House of Representatives.
Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman, main author of House Bill 10407, said the growing population of the province needs more services and allocations, as well as additional representation.
The province of Basilan is an island province situated within Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (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.
“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,” said Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, added.
HB 10407 or An Act Reapportioning the Lone District of the Province of Basilan Thereby Creating the First and Second Legislative Districts of Basilan proposes reapportionment.
The First District will include Isabela City and the municipalities of Lantawan, Maluso, Hadji Muhtamad, and Tabuan-Lasa while the Second District are Lamitan City and the municipalities of Akbar, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan, Ungkaya Pukan, Sumisip and Al-Barka.
