PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has finally signed into law Republic Act 11533, creating two more congressional districts for the province of Rizal.
Under the new law, the towns of San Mateo and Montalban would have separate congressional districts distinct from Rizal’s second congressional district composed of the lakeshore towns of Tanay, Cardona, Baras, Morong, Jala-jala, Pililla, and Teresa.
In a Facebook post, provincial board member Dino Tanjuatco welcomed the enactment of the redistricting, adding that creating more congressional districts in the province translates to better services.
“Ano po ang ibig sabihin nito? Kung dati ay iisang distrito tayo kasama ang San Mateo at Rodriguez na naghahati-hati sa pondong ibinibigay ng National Government sa pamamagitan ng ating kinatawan, ngayon ay para sa pitong bayan na lamang ilalaan ang naturang pondo kaya’t mas mabibigyang prayoridad ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” reads Tanjuatco’s post.
Tanjuatco, son of the late Rizal Congressman Ding Tanjuatco, further averred that additional congressional representatives would mean those who’d be elected as congressmen for San Mateo and Montalban will focus more on what is required by the districts they represent – including COVID-19 related response.
“Sa pamamagitan ng karagdagang representasyon sa Kongreso, mas matututukan ang programa sa imprastraktura, trabaho, edukasyon, kalusugan at iba pang serbisyo. Mas mapapadali rin ang pagsasagawa ng mga planong tutugon sa pandemya, gayundin sa rehabilitasyon pagtapos nito,” he quipped.
The enactment of the law creating two more congressional districts brings to six the total number of congressmen for Rizal in time for the assumption of the newly-elected solons in June next year.