Cotabato City bats for separate representation in Congress

Theres an appeal from the citizens of Cotabato City for a separate representation in
Congress.
Although the City has already exceeded the population requirement of 25!
under the Constitution! it does not ha"e its o#n representati"e in the $ouse of
%epresentati"es!& re"ealed %ep. 'ai (andra (insuat A. (ema #ho currently represents the
first district of )aguindanao! including Cotabato City.
To gi"e substance to the constitutional mandate! the lady*la#ma+er filed $' ,,5-
#hich pro"ides for the separation of Cotabato City from the first legislati"e district of the
pro"ince of )aguindanao to constitute the lone district of Cotabato City.
Cotabato City! per the 2. census! has a population of 2-.!-/0! #hich is more than
enough to qualify for a separate representation in Congress! she pointed out! adding that
said separate representation #ould help fast trac+ de"elopment for both Cotabato City and
the ele"en remaining municipalities of her current constituency.
The first district of )aguindanao! excluding Cotabato City is composed of ele"en
municipalities #ith a combined population of ,21!/10 as per said 2. census.
These municipalities are2 'arira3 'uldon3 4atu 'lah T. (insuat3 4atu 5din (insuat3
6abuntalan3 )atanog3 7orthern 6abuntalan3 8arang3 (ultan 6udarat3 (ultan )astura! and
9pi.
9nder $' ,,5-! the incumbent %epresentati"e of the first district of )aguindanao
:%ep. (ema; shall continue to represent the said district until the ne# %epresentati"e of
the <one <egislati"e 4istrict of Cotabato City shall ha"e been elected and qualified in the
next regular congressional elections.
The (ema bill has been referred to the Committee on <ocal =o"ernment chaired by
%ep. 8edro '. Acharon! >r. for appropriate consideration and action.

The author is confident that the measure #ould be enacted into la# during the
coming second regular session of the .0
th
Congress #hich opens this >uly. :1; dpt
NR # 3517B
JULY 4, 2014