Tolentino bats for redistricting Rizal province, Calaca's cityhood

Senator Francis Tolentino has pushed for two measures concerning the local governments of the provinces of Batangas and Rizal.

During Wednesday's session in the upper chamber, the chair of the Senate committee on local government sponsored House Bill No. 6222, which seeks to reapportion the 2nd legislative district of Rizal into three districts.

To be retained under the 2nd legislative district of Rizal are the following:

• Cardona
• Baras
• Tanay
• Morong
• Jala-Jala
• Pililia
• Teresa

The municipality of San Mateo shall be considered as the 3rd district and the municipality of Rodriguez as the 4th district.

Tolentino said this would promote proper representation in the province of Rizal and help local officials better respond to the needs of the residents.

He also sponsored House Bill No. 6598 which seeks to convert the municipality of Calaca, Batangas into a component city.

Prerequisites stated in the Local Government Code have been met by the town, according to Tolentino, as it has a locally generated annual income of P164 million and has 105.49 km² land area.

Both bills were approved by the House of Representatives in June this year. Senators will have to take the measures up for second and third reading after they resume session in January 2021. —LBG, GMA News