Bacolod City - The redistricting of Bacolod City will not materialize yet this year due to lack of time, Councilor Al Espino, who is the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Ways and Means, said.

Espino said that, hopefully, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya could refile the house bill splitting the city into two legislative districts if he is re-elected into office in 2022 so it would finally push through.

Gasataya filed House Bill 147 for Bacolod's redistricting in 2016 and refiled it three years later, but, nothing happened to it since the SP failed to issue a Resolution of No Objection.

Espino earlier explained that there were several reasons for the failure to issue the RONO, and said they will convene again to discuss the issue on redistricting.

He reiterated that it is necessary to divide Bacolod into two districts because, by 2023, the Department of Budget and Management will start reducing the Internal Revenue Allotment of local government units from the national government by at least 30 percent.


Espino also said that, if that happens, Bacolod will lose about ₱ 600 million in IRA, but if the redistricting of the city pushes through, it will cushion the effect.

Under Section 1 of the proposed redistricting, barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 41, Alangilan, Banago, Bata, Estefania, Granada, Mandalagan, Montevista, and Villamonte will comprise the first district.

The second district will be comprised of barangays 28, 29, 39, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, Alijis, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Pahanocoy, Punta Taytay, Singcang-Airport, Sum-ag, Taculing, Tangub, and Vista Alegre.

The SP of each district will be composed of a vice mayor as presiding officer and eight regular council members, including the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and other sectoral representatives as members.
(Adrian Nemes via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)