Hataman eyes reapportionment of Basilan into 2 legislative districts

Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman on Tuesday sought the reapportionment of the lone congressional district of Basilan into two legislative districts.

Hataman's House Bill 10407, or An Act Reapportioning the Lone District of the Province of Basilan Thereby Creating the First (1st) and Second (2nd) Legislative Districts of Basilan, is suggesting the following reapportionment:

• First legislative district – Isabela City and the municipalities of Lantawan, Maluso, Hadji Muhtamad, and Tabuan-Lasa
• Second legislative district – Lamitan City and the municipalities of Akbar, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan, Ungkaya Pukan, Sumisip and Al-Barka.

Hataman said his proposed measure aims to empower the residents of Basilan by ensuring their equal participation and representation in national legislation through their duly-designated representatives.

He noted that while the population in Basilan increases, the need for public service also grows, making it "timely" to have two congressional districts in the province.

“In keeping with the above-mentioned cases and in consonance with the Constitutionally-enshrined mandate of democratic and proportional representation, the bill therefore proposes to reapportion the province of Basilan into two legislative districts,” Hataman said.

Hataman said as of May 1, 2020, the total population of Basilan, including Isabela City, is 556,586. He said this indicates that the population of Basilan grew the fastest in the last five years. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News