THE law splitting Rizal’s second congressional district into three has finally been signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte.
In signing Republic Act 11533, Rizal’s second legislative district would now be represented by three congressmen –one for the lakeshore municipalities of Teresa, Cardona, Morong, Baras, Tanay, Pililla and Jalajala clustered as second district, one for San Mateo which now becomes the third district and Montalban as fourth district.
In a statement, the provincial government welcomed signing of the law as a positive development even as it expressed belief that such redistricting would yield better response insofar as addressing the needs of residents and facilitate long-term recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
The law, which was signed last March 25, also directs the Commission on Elections to “issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations” within 30 days of the measure’s effectivity.
Rizal, which lies east of Metro Manila, is considered a vote-rich area as government data showed the province as home to about 2.9 million residents.
Interestingly, the new second district has a population of 449,103, the third district 252,527 people, and the fourth district is home to 369,222.
Under the constitution, a locality with at least 250,000 residents is entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives, he said in a statement.