Bacolod Councilor Alex Paglumotan yesterday said he submitted Saturday the statistical data on Bacolod City required by the Congressional committee for the proposed division of the city into two congressional districts.

He said he did not author the resolution “requesting the House of Representatives to consider the possibility of dividing the political territorial subdivision of Bacolod City into two congressional seats or districts” for political reasons because he has no ambition to run for congressman.

Paglumotan said Bacolod City is qualified to be divided into two districts in terms of population and income. It has now reached a total annual budget of P1 billion, he said.

He said that, based on the 2007 census of population conducted by the National Statistics Office, the population of Bacolod is 499,497 as of Aug. 1, 2007.

Paglumotan said he submitted the data of Bacolod City through 4th District, Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer because the solon had volunteered to bring the resolution to Congress. Ferrer, together with Reps. Alfredo Marañon III, and Ignacio Arroyo are very active in facilitating their request, he said.

He recalled that the late Bacolod Rep. Romeo Guanzon had asked for a study on the possibility of dividing Bacolod City into two congressional districts before.

Paglumotan said he believes having two congressional seats in the House of Representatives will be advantageous to Bacolod City. A new comer congressman will receive a pork barrel of more than P65 million a year, he said, and if that is doubled, with the city having two congressmen, that will mean more roads, more drainage system repairs, more school buildings, and more farm-to-market road developments for Bacolod. 

Once Congress gives the green light, the appropriate government agencies, like the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections, will conduct an evaluation and there will also be a referendum held in the city, Paglumoltan said. The city does not have to spend anything for the activity, he said.

Asked for his reaction, Rep. Monico Puentevella said they will consult everyone about the proposal so they will be able to get the pulse of the people.

Ferrer said he only helped as a taxpayer of Bacolod because economically it will be beneficial to the city. However, politically he is not involved, he said.

Paglumotan said he was informed that the request of Iloilo to be divided into two congressional districts has been approved. If Congress has taken into account the request of Iloilo, there is no reason why it will not grant the request of Bacolod, he said.*CGS

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