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TUESDAY August 20,2019
Lawmaker Pushes for
two Maguindanaos
A I"{WMAKER is Pushing for the
division of Maguindanao into
two provinces, citing the need
for peoPle to get easier access to
public services.
Maguindanao Second District
Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu has
filed House Bitl 3405 creating the
"Maguindanao North, " aPart from
the province of Maguindanao.
Under the bill, filed last August
5, Maguindanao Northwill consist
of the municiPalities of Barira,
Buldon, Datu Anggal Midtimbang
Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin
Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanong,
Northern Kabuntalan, Parang,
Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura,
, Sultan Sumagka and UPi.
I4eanwhile, the lone legisla-
tive district of the Province of
Maguindanao will consist of the
municipalities of AmPatuan,
Buluan, Datu Abdullah Sangki,
Datu Hofer, Datu Montawal,
Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu
Salibo, Datu Saudi AmPatuan,
Datu UnsaY, Gen. S.K. Pendatun,
Guindulungan, MamasaPano,
Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Pa-
glat, Pandag, Raiah BuaYan,
Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saidona
Mustapha, South UPi, Sultan sa
Barongis and TalaYan.
The bill states that the tenitorial
jurisdiction of the province of Ma-
guindanao North shall be within
th. ptet.m metes and bounds of
all' the municipalities comprising
TIPAG.g -ATU
the new-ly proPosed Province.
The incumbent rePresentatives
of the presentMaguindanao Prov-
ince will continue to sewe their
tenure under their legislative dis-
uicts until the expiration of their
term of office.
The seat of Maguindanao North
will also be in the municiPatitY of
Sultan Kudarat due to its acces-
sibility to air and seaPort, among
other modes of transPortation,
according to Mangudadatu.
"Despite being rich in natural
resources, Maguindanao is still
considered as one of the Poor-
-est
|ro'vinces due to inequitable
influx of proiects and Programs'
In line with this, the creation
of this province will bring the
people closer in availing [public]
services," Mangudadatu said in his
explanatory note.
."Local resource management
and delivery of these basic Public
sewices will be more efficient as
majority of govemment officials will
work and focus on Programs that
will best serve the interests of their
constituents, " the lawmaker added.
Maguindanao occuPies the
northwestern Part of the former
province of Cotabato on the east,
the Moro Gulf on the west, Sultan
Kudarat on the south, and Lanao
del Sur on the north.
The current Province has a
population of 1,173,933 as of the
2015 census. "GLEEJATEA