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[ VOL. V, October 13, 1986 ]
R.C.C. NO. 107
OPENING OF SESSION
At 10:58 a.m., the President, the Honorable Cecilia Muñoz Palma, called the session to order.
THE PRESIDENT: The session is called to order.
THE PRESIDENT: Please rise for the National Anthem.
Everybody rose for the National Anthem.
THE PRESIDENT: Please remain standing for the Prayer to be led by the Honorable Cirilo A. Rigos.
Everybody remained standing for the Prayer.
REV. RIGOS: Most merciful and loving God, whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts, we vow before Thy Majesty for Thy patience in guiding us all along the way, for pains that served to purge our souls, for victories that gave us a forestate of the joy which the world can never give, we give You thanks, O God. We offer unto Thee the product of our collective work; may it be a channel to Thy Grace and an instrument of Thy peace, and may it contribute to the healing of the nation and the building of a world where love and justice reign.
Above all, help us to offer ourselves, that we may overcome every tendency to be proud or self-righteous. Teach us to be humble and willing to learn from the lowly and to serve even the unloving. And as we continue to face the duties of our common life, may the fullness of Thy presence abide with us, until our eyelids close in death.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
MR. RAMA: Madam President.
THE PRESIDENT: The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: I move that we dispense with the roll call.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the roll call is dispensed with.
MR. RAMA: Madam President, I move that we dispense with the reading of the Journal and approve the same.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. RAMA: Madam President, I move that we proceed to the Reference of Business.
THE PRESIDENT: Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
The Secretary-General will read the Reference of Business.
The Secretary-General read the following Proposed Resolution on First Reading, the President making the corresponding reference:
Proposed Resolution No. 551, entitled:
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN ORDINANCE TO BE APPENDED TO THE NEW CONSTITUTION APPORTIONING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN PROVINCES AND CITIES AND THE METROPOLITAN MANILA AREA.
Introduced by Hon. Davide, Jr., Azcuna, Sumulong, Calderon, Alonto, Jamir, Lerum, Guingona, Abubakar, Rodrigo, Aquino, Concepcion, de los Reyes, Jr., Garcia and Treñas.
To the Steering Committee.
At this juncture, the President relinquished the Chair to the Honorable Ricardo J. Romulo.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Floor Leader is recognized.
(Apportionment Ordinance for the House of Representatives)
MR. RAMA: I move that we consider Resolution No. 551 as introduced by the Committee on the Legislative.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
Consideration of Resolution No. 551 is now in order. With the permission of the body, the Secretary-General will read only the title of the resolution without prejudice to inserting in the Record the whole text thereof.
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL. Resolution No. 551, entitled:
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN ORDINANCE TO BE APPENDED TO THE NEW CONSTITUTION APPORTIONING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN PROVINCES AND CITIES AND THE METROPOLITAN MANILA AREA.
(The following is the whole text of the resolution)
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN ORDINANCE TO BE APPENDED TO THE NEW CONSTITUTION APPORTIONING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN PROVINCES AND CITIES AND THE METROPOLITAN MANILA AREA.
Resolved by the 1986 Constitutional Commission in session assembled, to propose, as it hereby proposes, an Ordinance to be appended to the new Constitution as follows:
SECTION 1. For purposes of the election of Members of the House of Representatives of the First Congress of the Philippines under the Constitution proposed by the 1986 Constitutional Commission and subsequent elections, and until otherwise provided by law, the Members thereof shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila Area as shown in Annex "A" hereof. *
SECTION 2. The Commission on Elections is hereby empowered to make minor adjustments of the apportionment herein made.
SECTION 3. Any province that may hereafter be created or any city whose population may hereafter be increased to more than two hundred fifty thousand shall be entitled in the immediately following election to at least one Member or such number of Members as it may be entitled to on the basis of the number of its inhabitants and according to the standards set forth in Section 5 of Article ______ of the Constitution. The number of Members apportioned to the province out of which such new province was created or where the city, whose population has so increased, is geographically located shall be correspondingly adjusted by the Commission on Elections but such adjustment shall not be made within one hundred and twenty days before the election.
SECTION 4. The Ordinance shall be appended to the Constitution proposed by the 1986 Constitutional Commission, and shall be submitted to a plebiscite simultaneously with such Constitution, and shall take effect upon its ratification by a majority of the votes cast in such plebiscite.
The Committee on the Legislative
(Sgd.) Hilario G. Davide, Jr.
Chairman
(Sgd.) Adolfo S. Azcuna
Vice-Chairman
MR. RAMA: I move, Mr. Presiding Officer, that we dispense with the Rules and proceed to the Second and Third Reading on the resolution on redistricting.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. RAMA: I ask that Commissioner Davide, the chairman of the Legislative Committee, be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I request for permission for our COMELEC representatives headed by Director Vicente de Lima, and our committee secretary, Mrs. Rachelle Agustin Caoile, to assist the committee at the front of the session hall at the sponsorship table. We need their services in the course of the discussion on the apportionment.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The request is granted.
The Commissioner may proceed.
SPONSORSHIP SPEECH OF COMMISSIONER DAVIDE
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer and my distinguished colleagues:
The Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, which this Commission approved yesterday, mandates that the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than 250 Members, unless otherwise provided by law, who shall be elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio and of Members who, as provided by law, shall be elected through a party list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations. The party list representatives shall constitute 20 per centum of the total number of representatives including those under the party list. For three consecutive terms after the ratification of this Constitution, one-half of the seats allocated to party list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from the labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector. Each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact and adjacent territory. Each city or each province with a population of at least 250,000 shall have at least one Representative. This is Section 5 of the Article on the Legislative. On the basis of a 250-seat House of Representatives, 200 seats would be for the regular legislative districts and 50 for the party list representatives of which 25 would, for three consecutive terms of the House of Representatives, be for the sectoral representatives. The Commission, upon motion of Commissioner Felicitas Aquino, decided to apportion the legislative districts to be incorporated in an ordinance to be appended to the new Constitution. The Committee on the Legislative forthwith prepared the ordinance which embodies the apportionment. This is covered by the proposed resolution which is the subject of our discussion and copies thereof had been distributed to the body. The ordinance fixes at 200 the number of legislative seats which are, in turn, apportioned among the provinces and cities with a population of at least 250,000 and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio. The population is based on the 1986 projection, with the 1980 official enumeration as the point of reckoning. This projection indicates that our population is more or less 56 million. Taking into account the mandate that each city with at least 250,000 inhabitants and each province shall have at least one representative, we at first allotted one seat for each of the 73 provinces; and one each for all cities with a population of at least 250,000, which are the Cities of Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Caloocan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga. Thereafter, we then proceeded to increase whenever appropriate the number of seats for the provinces and cities in accordance with the number of their inhabitants on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio. With these as the guidelines, cities which do not qualify for a seat have to become component parts of a district in a province where they are geographically located. Three cities which in the 1984 parliamentary elections were allotted separate seats in the regular Batasang Pambansa, namely, Baguio, Olongapo and Iligan, are no longer entitled to separate seats in the House of Representatives due to their failure to comply with our inhabitant requirements. The distribution of the legislative seats are clearly reflected in the annex to the proposed ordinance, copies of which had likewise been distributed to the body. I need not enumerate that. I request, however, that the ordinance resolution and the annex be read into and be considered part of the Record. * I would like to emphasize that in comparison with the 1984 allocation of seats provided for in the ordinance appended to the 1973 Constitution, our allocation increased the number of seats from 183 to 200 under which the following regions have increases as follows:
Region II — 1, from 11 to 12
Region III — 2, from 17 to 19
Region IV — 1, from 24 to 25
Region V — 1, from 13 to 14
Region VI — 1, from 16 to 17
Region VIII — 1, from 10 to 11
Region XII — 2, from 9 to 11
Region X — 4, from 10 to 14
Region XI — 3, from 12 to 15
National Capital Region — 1, from 21 to 22.
No region suffered a reduction of the seats granted to them under the 1984 Ordinance.
In the distribution of the seats and the apportionment thereof in each province and city, the committee objectively considered all protests and complaints formally received by it.
The Province of Cavite, however, gave us a very peculiar problem. The Commission on Elections submitted an apportionment scheme for the province. Commissioner Jamir, however, submitted a counter proposal which was earlier favorably considered by the Commission on Elections staff. However, the committee received vigorous protests against the Jamir plan, among those protests were from former Senator Justiniano Montano, who maintained that the original COMELEC plan is more in accord with the standards of apportionment, and former Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, Honorable Abraham Sarmiento, who likewise objected to the Jamir proposal. In view of this, the proposed ordinance, insofar as Cavite is concerned, indicates the original COMELEC recommendation and the Jamir plan and leaves the same to the body to decide, with the Jamir plan to be presented as an amendment at the proper time.
Former MP Renato Cayetano likewise vigorously objected to the combination of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa. He wants that the 1984 arrangement wherein Pateros, Taguig and Muntinlupa were constituted into one district be maintained. In the 1984 arrangement, Parañaque and Las Piñas were combined into one district. Under our proposal, Parañaque would have a separate seat. And if we maintain the union of Pateros, Taguig and Muntinlupa, they would be underrepresented because they have a combined population of 448,205. Following the standards set, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa shall have to be grouped together, and Taguig and Pateros shall be combined as one unit.
The work of the committee on the apportionment was not an easy job, Mr. Presiding Officer. The Committee could not have made it without the assistance and cooperation of the Commission on Elections which made a very careful, objective and impartial study on the matter. Due recognition, therefore, should be made of record for the special assistance of Atty. Vicente de Lima, the executive director of the COMELEC, and the members of his ad hoc committee, namely: Atty. Vicente Gerochi, Jr., the Assistant Executive Director for Operations; Atty. Nancy Madarang, Manager, Personnel Department and Officer-in-Charge, Law Department; Atty. Julio de Samito, Manager of the Election Records and Statistics Department; Atty. Severino Mena, Regional Director of the National Capital Region; Atty. Ben Rivera, Assistant Manager of the Election Records and Statistics Department; Atty. Samuel Barangan, the Assistant Regional Director of the National Capital Region; Atty. Enrique de Guzman, the Supervising COMELEC Staff and Officer-in-Charge of the Executive Director; Atty. Roberto Mejorada, Chief of the Precincts Division; Atty. Wilfredo Raneses, COMELEC Field Supervisor; Mrs. Soledad de Guzman, Chief of the Records and Statistics Division, and the following Election Registrars of Manila: Atty. Nestorio Bautista, Atty. Enrique Roa, Atty. Ernesto Berdejo, and Atty. Juanito Caro, who gave their talents, efforts, time and energy to the committee in the preparation of the apportionment plan. They, too, spent sleepless nights on the plan. To Director de Lima and his staff, the Committee on the Legislative expresses its gratitude.
Of course, our committee should not forget our committee secretary, and for the record, we have to memorialize our eternal gratitude to the committee secretary, Mrs. Rachelle Agustin Caoile, whose loyalty and dedication to duty, diligence and patience made possible the early completion not only of the apportionment plan but all committee reports.
Mr. Presiding Officer, the committee is now prepared for the debate on the ordinance, and we request permission that the committee vice-chairman, Commissioner. Azcuna, and the committee members, Commissioners Aquino, Alonto, Guingona, de los Reyes, Jamir, Rodrigo, Treñas and the others who are not yet in the hall, be requested to join us here at the sponsorship table.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Guingona is recognized.
MR. GUINGONA: This is just clarificatory; Mr. Presiding Officer. In Section 2, the Commission on Elections is empowered to make minor adjustments on the apportionment made here.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. GUINGONA: We have not set any time limit for this.
MR. DAVIDE: We should not set a time limit unless during the period of amendments a proposal is made. The authority conferred would be on minor corrections or amendments, meaning to say, for instance, that we may have forgotten an intervening municipality in the enumeration, which ought to be included in one district. That we shall consider a minor amendment.
MR. GUINGONA: Thank you.
MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner de Castro is recognized.
MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you.
I was about to ask the committee the meaning of minor adjustment. Can it be possible that one municipality in a district be transferred to another district and call it a minor adjustment?
MR. DAVIDE: That cannot be done, Mr. Presiding Officer. Minor, meaning, that there should be no change in the allocations per district. However, it may happen that we have forgotten a municipality in between, which is still in the territory of one assigned district, or there may be an error in the correct name of a particular municipality because of changes made by the interim Batasang Pambansa and the Regular Batasang Pambansa. There were many batas pambansa enacted by both the interim and the Regular Batasang Pambansa changing the names of municipalities.
MR. DE CASTRO: So, the minor adjustment may be made only if one of the municipalities is not mentioned in the ordinance appended to, and it will be up for the COMELEC now to adjust or to put such municipality to a certain district.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer. For instance, we may not have the data regarding a division of a municipality by the interim Batasang Pambansa or the Regular Batasang Pambansa into two municipalities, meaning, a mother municipality and the new municipality, but still actually these are within the geographic district area.
MR. DE CASTRO: So the minor adjustment which the COMELEC cannot do is that, if, for example, my municipality is in the First District of Laguna, they cannot put that in any other district.
MR. DAVIDE: That is not even a minor correction. It is a substantive one.
MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: May I ask that Commissioner Nolledo be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Nolledo is recognized.
MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, the Gentleman from Palawan, either from the First or the Second District.
MR. NOLLEDO: I would like to ask some questions on the redistricting of the Province of Palawan. Why is it that Puerto Princesa is included with the northern towns when I think Puerto Princesa has more affinity with Aborlan, Balabac, Batarasa, Brooke's Point, Narra, Quezon and Marcos? As an actual inhabitant of the Province of Palawan, I notice that the people of Puerto Princesa used to go to the south than north because going north is less accessible than going south. I also notice that, in area, the northern part, the First District, is much greater than the Second District. I do not know what are the factors considered by the committee. Did the body consider only population?
MR. DAVIDE: The committee took into account the standards set forth in Section 5 of the Article on the Legislative, and these are: First, it should be apportioned among the provinces, cities and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their inhabitants on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio; and second, each legislative district must be compact, adjacent and contiguous.
MR. NOLLEDO: I think the last factor was not met when the committee placed Puerto Princesa with the northern towns. May I know from the committee, with the assistance of the experts from the COMELEC, what is the distance between the nearest town north of Puerto Princesa from San Vicente? What is the distance between San Vicente and Puerto Princesa City?
MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner de Castro is recognized.
MR. DE CASTRO: So that we may have a system of discussion on the redistricting made by the committee, I suggest that our discussion begin from, say, as scheduled here in this report, with Manila and so on until we go to Region I, Region II, Region III, Region IV, because we will be jumping if we do this.
MR. NOLLEDO: Mr. Presiding Officer, I think whoever is ahead in making a reservation for interpellations should be given a chance. After this, I have no objection to Commissioner de Castro's suggestion to be followed by the body.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, we will follow the suggestion of Commissioner de Castro when we come to the period of amendments. In the meantime, we are still in the period of interpellations.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Nolledo may proceed.
MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
I notice that Puerto Princesa is nearer to Aborlan than Puerto Princesa is nearer to San Vicente. Besides, based on population, Puerto Princesa has a population of 75,480 and based on the apportionment, if we include Puerto Princesa with the northern towns, we will be arriving at a total of 265,000 as against only 186,000 in the south. I am really concerned about this for practical purposes. I would like to tell the body that Cuyo and Coron are very important towns of the northern part of Palawan. In fact, Cuyo used to be the capital of Palawan before Puerto Princesa was made the capital of our Province. And as far as prospective candidates are concerned, if we will include Puerto Princesa City — pardon me, with due respect to those residing in the south — I can find more candidates in the north who are known in Palawan and who are interested in running for Congress than in the south. There are many who are in Cuyo and Coron, so they will be fighting each other there and there will be less candidates, perhaps, in the south. I think we should consider also the importance of Cuyo and Coron on the upper side. There will be no important area in the south except, perhaps, Quezon, but there are many poor Palawenos in Quezon. Of course, I have no objection if any poor man decides to run for Congress, but I doubt if there is anyone interested in that area to run for Congress.
MR. DAVIDE: On the basis of the committee proposal, if we remove Puerto Princesa from the First District and transfer it to the Second District, the entire population of the Second District will be 251,000 more or less, and the First District, without Puerto Princesa, will only be 190,000.
MR. NOLLEDO: I do not believe so.
MR. DAVIDE: I understand that Puerto Princesa is practically the gateway to the other municipalities indicated as belonging to the First District.
MR. NOLLEDO: I think the computation is seemingly erroneous because I made my own computation. If we include Puerto Princesa in the upper side in the First District, what will happen? How many will remain?
MR. DAVIDE: It would have a total of 265,358.
MR. NOLLEDO: No, I think something like 262,213 because under 86,000 will be the population in the south. We add 75,480 and we will have only 262,000. But if we add Puerto Princesa to the upper side, we will have 265,000.
MR. DAVIDE: So the Commissioner's proposal is that Puerto Princesa be in the Second District with Aborlan, Balaba, Batarasa, Brooke's Point, Narra, Quezon and Marcos.
MR. NOLLEDO: Yes, because Puerto Princesa has greater affinity with the southern towns than with the northern towns. I can say that without fear of valid contradiction.
MR. DAVIDE: At the proper time, we may be able to consider the Commissioner's proposal, I mean, during the period of amendments.
MR. NOLLEDO: I hope the committee will consider my proposal favorably for the sake of our province, not for my own sake.
MR. DAVIDE: We would request our COMELEC experts here to study the Commissioner's proposal about the transfer of Puerto Princesa to the southern district or the Second District of Palawan.
MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: I ask that Commissioner Uka be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Uka is recognized.
MR. UKA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I have here a letter from a leader of the municipalities of Talayan, Upi and South Upi, and with the body's kind permission, may I read a portion of it.
MR. DAVIDE: This is Region XII, Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. UKA: Yes. I understand that they also sent a copy of this to the Committee on the Legislative.
For and in behalf of the constituents of all sectors of the proposed Congressional First District, it is respectfully requested that the municipalities of Talayan, Upi and South Upi be included in the First District to prevent the unfair, unjust, unreasonable and undemocratic consequences of gerrymandering on the following grounds:
The Municipalities of Talayan, Upi and South Upi are formerly parts of the Municipality of Dinaig. Thus, their inclusion in the First District will retain and maintain the present accessibility, communications, political stability and common interest of the people there.
Historically and traditionally, the Municipalities of Talayan, Upi and South Upi and their mother Municipality of Dinaig have one common and the same political, economic, cultural, social, tribal, ancestral and even peace and order interests even during the pre-Spanish times and up to the present. To dismember this compact and united territory is not only impractical but most unfair.
Since time immemorial, the Province of Maguindanao was divided into the Upper Valley (Laya, in Maguindanao) and the Lower Valley (Ilud, also in Maguindanao).
It is a fact that the Upper Valley (Laya) and Lower Valley (Ilud) were and still are under the just and accepted reigns of the political, traditional and sectoral leaders peculiar to their respective territories and inhabitants . . .
Being part of the whole since the pre-Spanish time to the present, their assimilation into the Upper Valley — Second District (Laya) is unwise and will definitely create more instability, chaos and disunity.
Consultations with the constituents of the First District were not resorted to. Thus, we believe that the proposal should be amended to conform to the true wish and desire of the people of Talayan, Upi and South Upi. We dare say that even in the referendum, I doubt if the proposition to include Talayan, Upi and South Upi in the Second District would even muster five (5) percent affirmative vote. Democratically, therefore, our position is most tenable and everlasting.
So, in view of these reasons, the inhabitants and leaders of these municipalities respectfully request that the proposal be amended by including Talayan, Upi and South Upi in the First Congressional District of the Province of Maguindanao.
MR. DAVIDE Mr. Presiding Officer, as proposed by us, the First District will have a total population of 297,049. The Second District with Talayan, Upi and South Upi will have a total of 295,620. So, there is only a difference of about 2,000 in population. If we remove Upi, Talayan and South Upi from the Second District and transfer it to the First District, the First District will then have a total population of 373,779, while the remaining Second District will only have a population of 218,890. So, there would be imbalance in population.
MR. UKA: Will it be possible if we can get some districts there to be transferred in exchange to balance?
MR. DAVIDE: Is there any proposal from those who wrote that letter to sort of exchange?
MR. UKA: I will try to do that during the time of amendments, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, we will also welcome any possible amendments from the Commissioner but we only invite his attention to the imbalance in population which would result.
MR. UKA: Of course, the population there would, therefore, be more important than the accessibility and the compactness of the region.
MR. DAVIDE: Of course, we have to consider as basic the compactness, the accessibility, the contiguity and adjacentness.
MR. UKA: So, the problem there is the population.
MR. DAVIDE: That is the remaining issue there.
MR. UKA: Thank you very much.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I ask that Commissioner Ople be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Ople is recognized.
MR. OPLE: I just have three questions. One is with respect to Metro Manila. There was one additional seat given to Metro Manila.
MR. DAVIDE: That is correct.
MR. OPLE: They rose from 21 to 22.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. OPLE: Where did this extra seat go?
MR. DAVIDE: This seat went actually to Valenzuela which is now a separate unit. In the 1984 parliamentary elections, Parañaque and Las Piñas were combined. Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa were combined. This means then that the two separate units had only two. Under our proposal, Taguig and Pateros will be one district. Muntinlupa and Las Piñas would be another district. And Parañaque with a population of 275,000 plus, would be another district. So, this seat was allotted to these areas of Las Piñas, Parañaque, Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa.
MR. OPLE: Now, the arithmetic of the committee does not seem to fit the fact they have reported, that Valenzuela is now a district by itself; and Malabon and Navotas became a district by themselves. They used to be only one district. Then there is a new district in Parañaque, which is separate from Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Taguig and Pateros. That means two additional districts were added to Metro Manila?
MR. DAVIDE: No, Mr. Presiding Officer, only one is added. In 1984, Metro Manila had 21. Now, the National Capital Region will have a total of 22. In the 1984 election, Valenzuela was together with Malabon and Navotas. Now, Malabon and Navotas are combined with one seat; Valenzuela, another seat; and Parañaque, another seat.
MR. OPLE: So unless one was deducted elsewhere, there are two new districts created. I wonder how to reconcile that if no seat was withdrawn from other parts of Metro Manila.
MR. DAVIDE: That can be determined if we would just be given a little time. May we reserve the answer later?
MR. OPLE: Yes, I now go to Central Luzon. Of course, I want to thank the committee for having accepted the redistricting plan for Bulacan which is still essentially based on the COMELEC plan. But I have a question concerning the two added seats in Central Luzon. Central Luzon's seats rose from 17 to 19.1s that correct?
MR. DAVIDE: Region III?
MR. OPLE: Yes, Region III.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. OPLE: Now, two seats were added. Did these go to Bataan and Zambales?
MR. DAVIDE: Bataan has two; Zambales has two.
MR. OPLE: That accounts for the additional two.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. OPLE: Does this mean, however, now that Olongapo and Angeles did not rise to the required standard to become districts by themselves, it does not follow that they will be allowed to vote for provincial officials?
MR. DAVIDE: It depends on the provisions of the Article on Local Government and Autonomous Region under which a highly urbanized city, as determined by law — meaning the Local Government Code — will not be allowed to participate in the election of the provincial officials, as well as inhabitants of cities whose charters disenfranchise the voters for purposes of electing the provincial officials. So we will have to look into the charters of Olongapo and Angeles City.
MR. OPLE: Olongapo is a highly urbanized city. I do not know if Angeles City finally rose to that status.
MR. DAVIDE: It can on the basis of population because Angeles City has a population of more than 200,000. That was the reason we had not increased the population requirement of cities. From 200,000 to 250,000 Angeles City would have been entitled to a separate seat.
MR. OPLE: And the income of Angeles City has certainly passed P30 million.
MR. DAVIDE: If it has an income of more than P30 million, then it can qualify as a highly urbanized city under the Local Government Code.
MR. OPLE: Thank you for drawing that distinction very clearly.
Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: I move that we proceed to the period of amendments.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee has the following amendments before we go into individual amendments.
MR. SUAREZ: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Suarez is recognized.
MR. SUAREZ: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
May I just clear up the matter of Angeles City with the committee chairman.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. SUAREZ: That was mentioned by the honorable Commissioner Ople. I was made to understand that during the Marcos administration, there had been attempts to declare Angeles City as a highly urbanized city, and I think there was a Batasang Pambansa bill where a rider of some sorts in the Omnibus Election Code mentioned that there are certain qualifications in order to elevate these chartered cities into highly urbanized cities so as to remove them from voting on the provincial level. Now, the proposal which the Commissioner has submitted will have the effect of nullifying all of those standards, criteria and qualifications elevating highly urbanized cities under the Marcos administration. Is my understanding correct, Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. DAVIDE: No, because the determination of whether a city is highly urbanized or not will be governed strictly by the Local Government Code. And thereunder, to qualify as a highly urbanized city, a city must have a population of not less than 150,000 and an income of not less than P30 million.
MR. SUAREZ: Under those qualifications, the City of Angeles would have been declared a highly urbanized city and, therefore, the voters there would not be entitled to cast their votes or be voted upon as candidates in the provincial level. What is the effect of our proposal?
MR. DAVIDE: Our proposal does not disturb the law on the urbanization of a city. It will remain to be governed by the Local Government Code. Therefore, if Angeles City is really qualified, it has to apply as a highly urbanized city under the Local Government Code. What is needed is only an application. I remember very well that in 1984, although Bacolod and Iloilo were already qualified as such, both cities did not apply as highly urbanized cities.
MR. SUAREZ: Yes. But under the requirements now, we need at least a 250,000 population in order to qualify for one district. So even if it is considered a highly urbanized city, if it has no population of 250,000, it will not be entitled to one district.
MR. DAVIDE: That is correct.
MR. SUAREZ: Since Angeles City has only a population of about 224,000 to 226,000, notwithstanding the- fact that it may have been declared a highly urbanized city, it will not be entitled to one representative district.
MR. DAVIDE: That is correct.
MR. SUAREZ: Therefore, the voters in Angeles City would be qualified to vote on the provincial level. I want to make that very clear.
MR. DAVIDE: If it had already been classified as a highly urbanized city, it cannot vote for the provincial officials even if it were already entitled to; and even if it had already become a highly urbanized city, it will not qualify yet to a separate seat. But it is already classified as a highly urbanized city in accordance with the Local Government Code; however, it cannot vote for the provincial officials.
MR. SUAREZ: Yes, but that is disenfranchising them of their right to vote on the provincial level.
MR. DAVIDE: We approved already the Article on Local Government under which highly urbanized cities and cities whose charters do not allow its residents to vote for provincial officials cannot vote or participate in the election of provincial officials.
MR. SUAREZ: But there would be a discriminatory situation. Here is Angeles City. It is not entitled to any representative district. Therefore, they cannot vote for any Congressman. It is not entitled to vote on the provincial level because it is a highly urbanized city. Then are we not discriminating against the electors and the voters of Angeles City?
MR. DAVIDE: Insofar as its urbanization is concerned, that particular matter would not be an issue here. But we cannot agree with the Commissioner that the residents of Angeles City are also disenfranchised to vote for a representative in the House of Representatives because it will be joined together with another municipality.
MR. SUAREZ: Agreed. As the Commissioner proposed it, Angeles City would be tied up with the municipalities of Magalang and Mabalacat.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. SUAREZ: So they would be entitled to one representative district.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. SUAREZ: The voters of Angeles City could cast their votes for a representative or assemblyman but when it comes to the provincial level, Angeles City residents or voters would not be allowed to vote on the provincial level but residents or voters of Magalang and Mabalacat would be entitled to vote for provincial officials. Should we not correct that situation?
MR. DAVIDE: I am not familiar with the charter of the City of Angeles.
MR. SUAREZ: Under RA 3700, the charter allows Angeles City voters to vote for provincial officers.
MR. DAVIDE: Angeles City, in order to preserve its right to allow its residents to vote for the provincial officials, must not apply as a highly urbanized city so it could retain that right.
MR. SUAREZ: That is exactly what we are trying to point out. In the case of Angeles City, I understand that there have been efforts made through then Assemblyman Aber Canlas and Minister of Justice Estelito Mendoza to make it fall under the classification of a highly urbanized city. So assuming that to be correct, the situation which I have pictured to the Commissioner would prevail. That is to say, the citizens or the electors of Angeles City would be entitled to vote for a representative but they will not be entitled to vote for a governor or a vice-governor. On the other hand, the two municipalities belonging to the same district, the residents and the electors thereof would be entitled to vote for the provincial governor and provincial vice-governor.
MR. DAVIDE: If Angeles City will be converted into a highly urbanized city, that would be the result, but that is the proper area of the Article on Local Government and it might require a reopening if we have to remedy the situation.
MR. SUAREZ: I see, so we have to reopen the Article on Local Government?
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. SUAREZ: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, if Commissioner Suarez would file a reopening of the section in the Article on Local Government, I will join him because that was my original idea — that residents of an urbanized city should be allowed to vote for the provincial officers.
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer, on the same subject, since I raised the original question about Angeles City and Olongapo City, I think the remedy, as pointed out by Chairman Davide, should be for the city council of Angeles City not to apply for a highly urbanized status just like what Iloilo and Bacolod did earlier because the application by the city council is an indispensable condition for the transformation of a city into a highly urbanized city. Incidentally, this is not just a matter of law. The Local Government Code merely implements a provision in the 1973 Constitution.
In the case of Olongapo City, which is already declared a highly urbanized city, it loses the right to vote for provincial officials.
Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Treñas is recognized.
MR. TREÑAS: Mr. Presiding Officer, I would just like to correct the statement of the committee chairman regarding Iloilo. Iloilo was then qualified under the Local Government Code to be declared as highly urbanized. It did apply but the party in power found it otherwise so it was not favorably considered. In fact, we have to file a case in the Supreme Court and again it was dismissed; so it is not correct that Iloilo, although qualified under the Local Government Code, did not try its best to be declared so but political considerations came in.
Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: I would like to thank Commissioner Treñas for the modification; it did apply but the application was rejected, although it was qualified.
MR. RAMA: May I now ask the committee chairman to present the committee amendments.
MR. DAVIDE: The first would be a general amendment in the sense that in the enumeration of municipalities following every district, we insert the words "MUNICIPALITIES OF." So, as an example, for Benguet in Region I, it reads here: Benguet with Baguio City, two (2) — First District:" After the colon, we add "MUNICIPALITIES OF."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence)
MR. DAVIDE: So, Mr. Presiding Officer, this will apply to all of the enumerations. Any enumeration of names of municipalities following the description "First District," Second District," and so on should always be preceded by the words "MUNICIPALITIES OF."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): So the committee chairman is proposing a general rule?
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: The second general rule that we propose would be: On districts which include a city where the city is first mentioned, after which follows the enumeration of municipalities, we also would like to propose after the name of the city the words "AND MUNICIPALITY," if there is only one municipality, or "AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF," if it would be followed by an enumeration of several municipalities.
Thus, in the case of Benguet for the Second District, we have "Baguio City and Tuba.” Insert the words "AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF,” so it would be "Baguio City AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF Tuba."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: The following are the committee amendments: On Region III, Nueva Ecija, Third District: Instead of "Palyan City,' it should be "PALAYAN."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): These are typographical errors, or is the committee chairman replacing them with different municipalities?
MR. DAVIDE: Typographical, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I see. Please proceed.
MR. DAVIDE: For Quezon City, the description of the four districts which are by barangay numbers and delineations should be substituted by the following which enumerates the names of the barangays, namely: First District under Quezon City: "First District:"
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I am sorry to interrupt. Some of the representatives of Quezon City are now here and have requested to defer consideration of Quezon City, with the knowledge and consent of the President of the Constitutional Commission.
MR. DAVIDE: I accept. We endorse the recommendation to defer consideration of Quezon City.
We will go back to Region III, Bulacan. For the Third District, after "Remedios" insert the word "TRINIDAD," so it should be "Remedios TRINIDAD" instead of just "Remedios. "
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): That is just completing the name?
MR. DAVIDE: It is only completing the name.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
No correction for Region V — Masbate.
Region VI — for Iloilo, Second District: Instead of "Davide" or "David," it should be "PABIA." So, Buenavista, PABIA, Leganes," and so on.
For Negros Occidental — the Municipality of "S. Benedicto" on the Third District should be transferred to the First District and follow "Escalante." So, it should be "Escalante and S. BENEDICTO."
I move for its approval.
MR. OPLE: There is a "City of Papitan." Is that "DAPITAN"?
MR. DAVIDE: That is "DAPITAN City."
MR. OPLE: It is spelled "Papitan."
MR. AZCUNA: On the first line, it should be "D."
MR. DAVIDE: That is correct.
MR. AZCUNA: Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: So, Zamboanga del Norte with the Cities of "DAPITAN and Dipolog", not “Papitan."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Thank you.
Then after "Dipolog City," substitute the semicolon (;) with a comma (,).
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: In Zamboanga del Sur, second line, I propose to substitute the word "Dumineg" with "DUMINGAG."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: For Region X, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. AZCUNA: For Region X, it should be "VINCENZO A. Sagun," not "Vicenzo."
MR. DAVIDE: That is correct. But again, Mr. Presiding Officer, in Zamboanga del Sur, the fourth line from the last, instead of "Vicenzo," it should be "VINCENZO."
MR. AZCUNA: And "Sam Miguel" should be "SAN Miguel."
MR. DAVIDE: Also on the fifth line from the last, it should be "SAN Miguel," instead of "Sam Miguel."
For Region X, instead of "has" before "Nieves" it should be "LAS" with a capital "l," to read: "LAS NIEVES."
I move for their approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendments are approved.
MR. DAVIDE: There was no approval yet, Mr. Presiding Officer, for the correction on Zamboanga del Sur, namely, "SAN Miguel" and "VICENZO Sagun."
I move for the approval thereof.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: For Bukidnon, the only amendment here is on the second line, "Kataotao" should be "KITAOTAO."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: For Misamis Oriental, the amendment is on the word "Binaungan" on the third line. I think the correct name is "BINUANGAN."
MR. PADILLA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Padilla is recognized.
MR. PADILLA: I notice that there are some corrections of typographical errors especially in the names of municipalities. Now instead of specifying these typographical errors, why do we not just authorize the committee to make those corrections
MR. DAVIDE: That would be the last anyway, Mr. Presiding Officer.
After Misamis Oriental, insert the following to be indented but all in capital letters: "CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, one (1)."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Finally, Surigao del Norte. After the comma (,) following "City," instead of "three," change it to "(2)" followed by a dash (-).
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Sarmiento is recognized.
MR. SARMIENTO: This is in connection with Region V. May I propose a minor amendment. The Province of Catanduanes from where I come from is misspelled, "Catandaduanes." It should be "CATANDUANES."
MR. DAVIDE: Yes. We are very sorry for the minor error in the name.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. SARMIENTO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee has no other further amendments.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I move that we proceed to the period of individual amendments. And we will proceed by district now, followed by the committee report.
MR. ALONTO: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Alonto is recognized.
MR. ALONTO: I am a member of the committee but I would like to be recognized for amendments to the committee report.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Please proceed.
MR. ALONTO: I propose that we start from the bottom. The committee chairman started from the top; now we will start from the bottom, meaning, Region XII.
MR. DAVIDE: Region XII.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Does the committee chairman agree?
MR. DE CASTRO: Why do we not begin from Region I? I am waiting for Region IV. It is only logical that we begin from number 1.
MR. ALONTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, it so happens that I have the floor.
MR. DE CASTRO: I respect the opinion of my friend, Commissioner Alonto, but this is a little bit unusual from the ordinary. I have been waiting for Region IV.
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: May I suggest that we put thirteen pieces of paper in a box, and just pull them out one by one to be fair.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): What does the committee say? There are three proposals now. One is to start from Regions I to XII, the other one is from Region XII or reversed and the Monsod proposal which is to raffle it.
MR. ALONTO: So we start now from where?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I am waiting the committee chairman's reaction.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Please proceed.
MR. DAVIDE: I do not think there are proposals for Regions I, II, III. There are three for Region IV. All the rest may have no more, except for Region XII.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): May I suggest that we proceed with the regions where there are no changes and approve those, and then go to the controversial ones.
MR. ALONTO: I agree, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: I move for the approval of the apportionment for Region I which would include the Provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province and Pangasinan, if there are no amendments, as indicated in the Annex to the Ordinance Resolution?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the proposal is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: I move for the approval of the apportionment for Region II comprising the Provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Ifugao, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the proposal is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: I move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces comprised in Region III; namely, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and the cities therein.
MR. SUAREZ: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Suarez is recognized.
MR. SUAREZ: May we ask for a deferment on Region III in the case of the Province of Nueva Ecija because the representative is here and would like to submit a proposal to the chairman of the committee.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): So this is with regard to Nueva Ecija?
MR. SUAREZ: Only for Nueva Ecija.
MR. DAVIDE: I withdraw in the meantime my motion for Region III.
MR. SUAREZ: Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: I also move for the deferment of the approval of the apportionment and districting of the National Capital Region since there are amendments.
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer, with respect to the metropolitan area. I think we have solved the problem of the missing seat.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer, we have solved it.
MR. OPLE: Yes. It turns out, according to Commissioner Monsod, that the cluster of Valenzuela, Malabon and Navotas had two seats-in 1984 and, therefore, there is no need to look for a missing seat after Valenzuela and Parañaque have been created as separate districts. There are no controversies any further with respect to the metropolitan region.
Thank you.
MR. JAMIR: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Jamir is recognized.
MR. JAMIR: I would like to propose an amendment to the committee report with respect to the Province of Cavite. May I have the floor, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I thought we are going to proceed first, or have we finished without any controversies?
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, we are now on Region IV but before Commissioner Jamir proceeds with his individual amendment, may I revive a motion to approve the apportionment and districting of the Metropolitan Manila comprising of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay City, Malabon and Navotas.
Mr. Presiding Officer, it is rather a committee amendment for Quezon City. So, may I propose an amendment to the apportionment and districting of Quezon City. Instead of the enumeration of the districts in Quezon City by barangays, in number and the delineation or boundaries, the committee proposed the following substitute amendment which will now read as follows: "QUEZON CITY. FIRST DISTRICT: THE BARANGAYS OF DEL MONTE, PALTOK, BUNGAD, SAN ANTONIO, KATIPUNAN, VETERANS VILLAGE, TALAYAN, DAMAYAN, MARIBLO, PARAISO, STA. CRUZ, NAYONG KANLURAN, PHILAM, WEST TRIANGLE. N.S. AMORANTO, PAANG BUNDOK, SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR, STA. TERESITA, SALVACION, MAHARLIKA, ST. PETER, LOURDES, STO. DOMINGO, SIENNA, SAN JOSE, MANRESA, PAGIBIG SA NAYON, BALINGASA, MASAMBONG, DAMAR, BAHAY TORO, STO. CRISTO, RAMON MAGSAYSAY, PROJECT 6, VASRA, ALICIA, and BAGONG PAG-ASA."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is that a period or a comma?
MR. DAVIDE: A semi-colon, Mr. Presiding Officer.
Underline "SECOND DISTRICT" and also "FIRST DISTRICT," Mr. Presiding Officer. "SECOND DISTRICT: THE BARANGAYS OF FAIRVIEW, NEW ERA, HOLY SPIRIT, BATASAN HILLS, COMMONWEALTH, PAYATAS, BAGONG SILANGAN, SAUYO, TALIPAPA, BAGBAG, SAN BARTOLOME, STA. LUCIA, GULOD, NOVALICHES PROPER, SAN AGUSTIN, NAGKAISANG NAYON, STA. MONICA, KALIGAYAHAN, PASONG PUTIK, APOLONIO SAMSON, UNANG SIGAW, TANDANG SORA, PASONG TAMO, CULIAT, BAESA, CAPRI, BALUMBATO AND SANGANDAAN ."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Can Commissioner Davide not just make that a general motion to place after each district the words "BARANGAYS OF" and not need to read all the barangays?
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer, only no need to put the article "of" only, no "the," before "BARANGAYS OF."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes.
MR. DAVIDE: So that will also be applicable to the First District and the Second District.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I am asking whether you have to read the names of all the barangays.
MR. DAVIDE. Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): All right, the Gentleman may continue.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none- the amendments are approved.
MR. TINGSON: Mr. Presiding Officer, just for the record, I would like to state that the change in Negros Occidental has my full approval and backing since I am from the Province of Negros Occidental.
Thank you very much.
MR. DAVIDE: For Region VII, the committee proposes to delete "Sierra Bullones" and "Pilar" from the Second District and to transfer the same to the Third District, after "Anda" at the end of the enumeration. So, it would be "Anda, SIERRA BULLONES, and PILAR."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Still on Region VII, for Cebu, the committee proposes to insert after "Santander" in the Second District, line 4, the "MUNICIPALITY OF SAMBOAN." So, it should be "Santander, Samboan," etc. This was omitted in the typing.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: On Cebu again, in the Fifth District, the name "Sugod" should be "SOGOD." So, it should be "SOGOD, Catmon," et cetera.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: For Cebu City, line 4, in the First District, I move for the correction of "Cogon-Ranos" to "COGON-RAMOS."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: For Negros Oriental, second to the last line, on "Zamboangita," there must be a "U" after "g"—"ZAMBOANGUITA." Then instead of "Siabon," it should be "SIATON."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Region VIII, Leyte, line 2, for the First District.
MS. ROSARIO BRAID: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Rosario Braid is recognized.
MS. ROSARIO BRAID: There is a typographical error on "Dunaguete"; it should be "D-U-M."
MR. DAVIDE: Thank you for the correction. So, on Negros Oriental again, it should not be “Dunaguete" as typed; it should be "DUMAGUETE."
Region VII, instead of “Babatugon” on the second line it should be "BABATNGON."
I move for their approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendments are approved.
MR. DAVIDE: In the Third District, after "Calubian," instead of "Culabe," it should be "CULABA." And instead of "Kawyan," it should be "Kawayan."
I move for their approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendments are approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We will now go to Northern Samar On line 3, before "San Isidro, " it should be "San ANTONIO." There is a typographical error in "Antino"; it should be "ANTONIO."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: For Region IX, Zamboanga del Norte, line 4, instead of "Polancio" it should be "POLANCO."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. AZCUNA: Will the committee chairman kindly delete the "n" after "Singangan"?
MR. DAVIDE: Also delete "n" in "Sindangan," line 3 from the last.
MR. DAVIDE: "THIRD DISTRICT: BARANGAYS OF E. RODRIGUES, SILANGAN, . . ."
MR. JAMIR: Rodrigues should be Z not s.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer, it should be Z not S.
"THIRD DISTRICT: BARANGAYS OF E. RODRIGUEZ, SILANGAN, QUIRINO 3-A, DUYAN-DUYAN, QUIRINO 3-B, AMIHAN, SOCORRO, SAN ROQUE, MANGA, ZOBEL DIOQUINO, TAGUMPAY, AGUINALDO, WHITE PLAINS, ST. IGNATIUS, BLUE RIDGE A, BLUE RIDGE B, BAYANIHAN, ESCOPA 1, ESCOPA 2, ESCOPA 3, ESCOPA 4, WEST KAMIAS, EAST KAMIAS, QUIRINO 2 A, QUIRINO 2 B, QUIRINO 2 C, UGONG NORTE, BAGUMBAYAN, LIBIS, VILLA MARIA CLARA, MASAGANA, MILAGROSA, MARILAG, BAGUMBUHAY, LOYOLA HEIGHTS, PANSOL, AND MATANDANG BALARA.
FOURTH DISTRICT: BARANGAYS OF BAGONG LIPUNAN, KANLURAN, SAN MARTIN, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, SOUTH TRIANGLE, SACRED HEART, LAGING HANDA, PALIGSAHAN, OBRERO, ROXAS, KAMUNING, TATALON, DON MANUEL, DOÑA JOSEFA, SAN ISIDRO, DOÑA AURORA, SANTO NIÑO, SANTOL, DOÑA IMELDA, KRISTONG HARI, KALUSUGAN, DAMAYANG LAGI, MARIANA, VALENCIA, HORSESHOE, PINAGKAISAHAN, SAN VICENTE, U.P. CAMPUS, KRUS NA LIGAS, CENTRAL, OLD CAPITOL SITE, U.P. VILLAGE, TEACHER'S EAST, TEACHER'S WEST, SIKATUNA, MALAYA, PIÑAHAN AND BOTOCAN."
The word "CONCEPTION" should be spelled with "T," and not "C," after the letter "P."
I move for their approval, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendments are approved.
MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Sarmiento is recognized.
MR. SARMIENTO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
This is in connection with the reservation we made for Quezon City. After conferring with Madam President Palma and the leaders of Quezon City, we are withdrawing our reservation.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Gentleman means on the deferment?
MR. SARMIENTO: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer. That was deferred a few minutes ago, so we are withdrawing that deferment and reservation.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): So, will Commissioner Davide renew the approval for the national region.
MR. DAVIDE: I move for the approval of the districting and apportionment of the Metropolitan Manila area, comprising of Manila, Quezon City, as amended, Caloocan City, Pasay City, Malabon and Navotas, San Juan and Mandaluyong, Marikina, Makati, Pasig, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinglupa, Pateros and Taguig, and Valenzuela?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the proposal is approved.
Commissioner Jamir is recognized.
MR. JAMIR: Mr. Presiding Officer, I wish to inform the body that I am a member of the committee, and I have signed the committee report but with reservation, for the precise purpose of filing my present amendment for substitution. My amendment for substitution is to delete the first paragraph of the committee report regarding Cavite; substitute the second paragraph, and in lieu thereof "COMMISSIONER JAMIR'S PROPOSAL." For purposes of identification and better clearance, I will mark the paragraph which I want to be deleted: Substitute capital letter "A" to capital letter “B.”
Mr. Presiding Officer, I would like to know from the committee what is its-response.
MR. DAVIDE: We would throw the proposed amendment to the body Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. JAMIR: I understand. Thank you.
So may I proceed, Mr. Presiding Officer, with my explanation?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Gentleman may proceed.
MR. JAMIR: I wish to thank beforehand Commissioner Davide for his stating in his sponsorship speech that the COMELEC has approved my proposal which is stated in the committee report. I think I will not be violating in confidence if I state that Executive Director de Lima himself told me that it was so approved and that my proposal was found to be beautiful — to use the Gentleman's own words — especially because each and every district in my proposal will contain one city.
I had been accused of gerrymandering — and I will now proceed to show why that is not so. But before I do that I wish to state that my proposal results not only in contiguous, compact and adjacent areas with respect to the municipalities mentioned in each of the districts: the residents of each and every district also have common sources of livelihood. For example, under my proposal, the first district consists of seacoast towns, the principal source of the livelihood of which is fishing, whether in the open sea or fishpond. The second district is composed of towns which are palay producing. The third district is composed of vegetable and fruit growing towns. As much as possible, Mr. Presiding Officer, the general direction of these districts are all from east to west, from where the sun shines to the place where the sun sets.
Let me go to the first district. The first district will consist of the towns of Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario and Cavite City. From the municipal building of Bacoor to the municipal building of Rosario, there are barely 25 kilometers in distance; and from the municipal building of Bacoor to the municipal hall of Cavite City, it is barely 20 kilometers in distance. Each and everyone of these towns are contiguous to each other, separated only by about 10-meter wide rivers. For example, the town of Bacoor is separated from the town of Kawit by a 10-meter wide river, the so-called Bacoor River; the town of Kawit is separated from Noveleta by a three-meter wide river; the town of Noveleta is separated from Cavite City by a three-meter river; the town of Noveleta is separated from Rosario by another three-meter wide river.
I do not think those are objections to the adjacentness or contiguousness of these territories.
Now, with respect to the second district, the town of Imus is not separated by any river with the town of Dasmariñas, neither is the town of Dasmariñas separated by any river from the town of General Alvarez, although there is a very narrow river between Carmona and Dasmariñas. The town of General Trias is not separated by any river nor is the town of Tanza. The city of Trece Martires is not separated by any river from its adjacent territories. The distance from Carmona to Tanza or Trece Martires is barely 70 kilometers; from the town of Carmona to the town of Dasmariñas is barely 40 kilometers; from the town of Dasmariñas to Trece Martires and Tanza is barely 30 kilometers. It has been stated by the oppositor that the distance between them is about 200 kilometers. It is not true. As I have said, the distance is only barely 70 kilometers. It is also alleged that the road there is unpaved and a hinterland. Apparently, the latest development in that place is unknown to the oppositor. Residents of Manila and Makati areas who wish to go to Matabunkay beach in Batangas pass through Carmona up to Dasmariñas and from Dasmariñas, they go upward through Silang, Tagaytay, et cetera. It is not really a hinterland. As a matter of fact, there are about a thousand small toilets built in Carmona by the previous administration.
In the third district, Silang and Tagaytay are not connected by any river. They are contiguous, without any boundary line, without any natural boundary between them. From Tagaytay, you have to go down to Mendez Nuñez, there is no river. But if you proceed farther west from Tagaytay, you will reach Alfonso without any river. Then from Alfonso you can go to Bailen and then to Magallanes. From Mendez Nuñez to Indang, there is a small bridge, it has a sort of a ravine but there is a bridge. And from Indang, you proceed to Naic where there is no river. From Naic, you go farther west to Maragondon, branch to the right on the way to that resort place, Puerto Azul; they are all highlands and there are no rivers. And instead of going to Ternate, you go a little farther west, you will be reaching Maragondon, where there is no river.
The distance from Silang, Cavite to Naic, for example, is about 25 kilometers; From Naic to Marangondon and Ternate, it is about 8 kilometers. If you want to go to Alfonso, passing through Tagaytay, it is about 10 to 15 kilometers But they are all good roads. The road to the town of Magallanes, which used to be isolated from civilization before martial law, is now concrete. So is the road from Naic to Maragondon, going to Puerto Azul and so is the road from Alfonso to Baylen. Of course, the road distance of the towns in the third district is quite long, but it could not be helped because they branch out. The towns do not go through one straight line.
I think that disposes of the charge that I was gerrymandering. In my proposal of August 4, 1986, which the COMELEC has approved, I did not State one reason, which is very, very important. My reason is that I did not want to picture as much as possible in the Record of the Constitutional Commission the unhappy state in which Cavite finds itself.
Let me state, Mr. Presiding Officer, that the towns of Bacoor, Imus and Kawit consisted or comprised the political enclave of former Governor Camerino and his mantle has now fallen on new and budding politicians. The towns of Tanza, Rosario and Naic form or comprise the Montano enclave. These two enclaves in Cavite have given rise to political bossism so much so that for the last 30 years or more, one faction alternates with each other and blood has been spilled in the cities and towns of Cavite. That is the cancer, I wanted to erase with my proposal by dividing Bacoor and Kawit away from Imus. By dividing or separating Rosario, Tanza and Naic, the Montano enclave will be destroyed. I understand the concern of the opponent of my proposals in wanting to group together the towns of Kawit, Bacoor and Imus into one district, because the oppositor wanted to isolate those three towns, so he will not have to bother with them anymore. But he will be controlling the two other districts of Cavite.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is Commissioner Jamir asking for an extension of time?
MR. JAMIR: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
I have been maligned, Mr. Presiding Officer, by an unsigned letter or statement made on the letterhead of the oppositor. Unfortunately, I was not given a copy of this. It was only through the kindness of Commissioner Alonto that I got this copy from him at the South Lounge on October 11, that was two days ago. I was maligned as insane, crazy and as having wangled an appointment to the Constitutional Commission through superior connections. I would have been proud if there were superior connections that backed me up. Unfortunately, I could not find any. And if, there is one, I would like to know so I can thank him personally, but I will not dignify these accusations here.
Apparently, Mr. Presiding Officer, a correction of this defamation was made by the author and it was distributed among the rest of all the Commissioners here except this Representation. When I had an opportunity to talk with him a few minutes ago in the presence of Commissioner Suarez, he was showing the said copies of his second letter or second statement, and I told him that I have not been given one, but he never even offered me that statement.
Mr. Presiding Officer, on October 11 at lunch time, I invited the oppositor for lunch. In the course of that luncheon he stated two significant facts which I will not forget. First, he said that he claimed the honor of reducing the voting age qualification of governor from 30 to 25 because his son Delfin was then only 27 years of age. How can we toy with so important a matter just to enable one son, how much beloved he is, to run for governor? But that is not only the thing that he said. In the course of that same lunch, he called his grandson named Bobby, introduced him to me as his probable candidate for governor in the Province of Cavite in the May elections. That is the political bossism that I want this Commission to take away in line with the approved provisions of the Constitution regarding political dynasties, the perpetuation of family fortunes through politics.
There are, Mr. Presiding Officer, many more things that I can say in this connection, and I can assure you that they are all pertinent, but in due consideration of the conveniences of the Commissioners, I will not prolong my statement. I will only say that when I presented my resolution or my letter to the Legislative Committee on August 4, I informed the committee in open session that — and these are my words — "I have absolutely no political interest to serve." I repeat that statement now.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: I ask that we suspend the session until two o'clock this afternoon.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is suspended until two o'clock in the afternoon.
It was 12:46 noon.
At 2:53 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is resumed.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I move that we defer consideration of Region IV because the proponent is not yet around and that we move on to consider Section 4.
May we ask that Commissioner de Castro be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner de Castro is recognized.
MR. DE CASTRO: Thank you.
I have just a very minor request from the chairman of the committee. This is with regard to the Province of Laguna, if the Commissioner has the COMELEC report with him so we can look into this.
MR. DAVIDE: Laguna, that is Region IV, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DE CASTRO: With regard to Laguna in the July 28 report of the COMELEC, I heartily agree on Districts I and II but I have a minor request on District III. The two highlands of Luisiana and Majayjay were placed in District III coming from District IV and Victoria, from District IV to District III — Victoria is a barrio of Pila which is in District IV and they are like mother and daughter closely sleeping together right on the lowland and brought to Sta. Cruz. I really do not know why it was placed in the third district in the highland area and the two highland municipalities of Luisiana and Majayjay were brought down to District III. So I request and I move that the report of the COMELEC which is a very objective report and very valid report be the one followed such that Luisiana and Majayjay shall stay in District III and Victoria in District IV with her mother. Please note on the second page that Victoria is on District IV. It was placed on the other page and who put in District No. III. I hope my kababayan, Commissioner de los Reyes, will not object because this is really the daughter going back to the mother.
MR. DAVIDE: I understand, Mr. Presiding Officer, that, according to Commissioner de los Reyes, this daughter is already married and fully emancipated. But may I request the recognition of Commissioner de los Reyes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes. Commissioner de los Reyes is recognized.
MR. DE LOS REYES: The fact of the matter is that the suggestion of Commissioner de Castro, may kababayan, would very much work in my favor, politically, because, as a matter of fact, in the town of Luisiana, I was only number three; whereas in the towns which were taken away from my district, as amended by the committee, I was number one. But in all fairness to other prospective candidates in the province, I think Luisiana and Majayjay — although it is very hard to campaign in these two towns, I must admit, because these are mountainous regions — may stay in District IV although, in all sincerity, that will be to my disadvantage. Victoria should remain in the third district because it is very near Calauan although admittedly it used to be a barangay of Pila. So the remedy perhaps would be to also put Pila in the third district, if that is what is bothering my kababayan. Again, I would lose a town where I was number one but that is all right because I think it is more in accord with the criteria we have set of compactness, adjacence and contiguity.
MR. DE CASTRO: That is not my problem, Mr. Presiding Officer, because if the Gentleman runs as a candidate in our place, I surely will campaign for him. It will be very difficult for me to campaign if I were in Victoria, to go up the mountain and visit Majayjay and Luisiana; whereas, it will be very easy for me to campaign in the Gentleman's district of Sta. Cruz, from Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, then Daytanle to the crossing there; I have Calauan, then I proceed with Pila, Victoria, Sta. Cruz. Kapag nagkampaniya ako, papanhik pa ako sa bundok.
MR. DAVIDE: So may we know the concrete proposal of the Commissioner.
MR. DE LOS REYES: That is on the assumption, Mr. Presiding Officer, that the Gentleman will campaign for me. But I think the formula he is trying to introduce is the Lagumbay formula.
MR. DE CASTRO: No, the Lagumbay program is different. He is different, he is from Kalayaan, and I think he will be happier for Victoria to be in District IV without Luisiana and Majayjay. Luisiana and Majayjay are mountain towns.
MR. DAVIDE: So may we know if Commissioner de los Reyes is proposing an amendment to the amendment so the committee can act accordingly.
MR. DE LOS REYES: No, Mr. Presiding Officer, my proposal is to let this amended report be approved and stay as it is and to reject, with all due respect, the amendment of our distinguished colleague, General Crispin de Castro. Anyway, his district in Biñan, San Pedro, and Sta. Rosa are not affected in any way.
MR. DE CASTRO: They are not affected, but I am after the integrity of the districts. Certainly, if Victoria is transferred to the third district, it is from the lowland to the highland, so the one campaigning in the highland will have still to go to the lowland.
If Majayjay and Luisiana are placed in the lowland which is an upland, the one campaigning in the lowland will still go up for these two municipalities in the highland. So mine is the compactness and the objective report of the COMELEC.
So I move — and please allow me to repeat — that the report of the COMELEC be followed on the districting.
MR. DAVIDE: On the basis of the ordinance, Luisiana and Majayjay form part of the fourth district.
MR. DE CASTRO: Luisiana and Majayjay go back to the fourth district.
MR. DAVIDE: May I request the Gentleman not to use the original COMELEC submission but the ordinance itself. My point is that we will avoid confusion if the Gentleman use as his basis for amendments the ordinance and not the COMELEC proposal.
MR. DE CASTRO: I will request them to amend the ordinance.
MR. DAVIDE: So under the Gentleman's amendment, we will delete Luisiana and Majayjay in the fourth district and transfer them to the third district.
MR. DE CASTRO: No, retain Luisiana and Majayjay in the third district and keep Victoria in the Fourth District.
MR. AZCUNA: The proposal is to transfer Victoria from the Third District to the Fourth District of Laguna and, in turn, to transfer Luisiana and Majayjay from the fourth district to the third.
MR. DAVIDE: Since there is an objection by Commissioner de los Reyes . . .
MR. DE CASTRO: Keep Luisiana and Majayjay in the third and keep Victoria in the fourth. This is the report of the COMELEC.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. RAMA: What does the committee say?
MR. DAVIDE: The committee, in view of the objection of Commissioner de los Reyes, would prefer to throw it to the body.
MR. RAMA: The body is ready to vote, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. OPLE: Before we vote, Mr. Presiding Officer, may I know whether we are talking about the district of Commissioner de los Reyes in Laguna.
MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer, I happened to roam all over Laguna. When I was yet in fourth grade, I made a relief map of the whole province. When I was in the Armed Forces I campaigned against the Huks in all the areas there, conducting meetings in Majayjay, Luisiana, Nagcarlan, Liliw and I almost memorized all those places. So I know how it is to go from Majayjay down to Victoria, up to Majayjay.
I happen to know the reason. In fact, you will find me watching you by the sidelines after tomorrow or after Wednesday. But I am only after how difficult it is for Commissioner de los Reyes to be in Sta. Cruz and go to Victoria, from the lowland to the upland.
So, I move that my amendment be put to the floor for decision, and before we do that, I request my kababayan to please maintain the lowland to the lowland and the upland to the upland.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Will Commissioner de Castro please state his motion so we can vote.
MR. DE CASTRO: I move that the municipalities of Luisiana and Majayjay which are placed in the fourth district of the committee report be retained in the third district, and the municipality of Victoria, which is in the third district of the committee report, be placed in the fourth district, this complying strictly with the-report of the COMELEC on July 28, 1986.
Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): As many as are in favor of the de Castro amendment, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)
As many as are against, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)
As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (Six Members raised their hand.)
The results show five votes in favor, seven against, and six abstentions; the motion is lost.
MR. CALDERON: Mr. Presiding Officer, I request that Commissioner Nolledo be recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: If there are no further amendments to the apportionment and districting of Laguna, may I move for the approval of the districting and apportionment of Laguna.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The chairman is moving for the approval of the redistricting of Laguna.
Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
Commissioner Nolledo is recognized.
MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
I talked to Commissioner Jamir to give way to me with respect to my proposed amendment to the redistricting of the Province of Palawan, Mr. Presiding Officer.
As I said in my interpellation this morning, the first district has a total population of 265,358, including the City of Puerto Princesa. The second district has a total population of 186,733. I pointed out that the figures given by Commissioner Davide were erroneous and so, if we include the City of Puerto Princesa in the second district, the second district will have a total population of 262,213, while the first district will have a total population of almost 190,000.
I said, Mr. Presiding Officer, that Puerto Princesa City has a closer affinity with the southern towns, beginning with Aborlan, Balabac, Batarasa, et cetera, rather than with the northern towns, the nearest of which, I understand, is not San Vicente, as indicated in the map, but Roxas. Roxas, Mr. Presiding Officer, has a distance from Puerto Princesa of 144 kilometers, while Aborlan has a distance of merely 63 to 64 kilometers from Puerto Princesa.
So, contiguity is not followed if we adopt the COMELEC report, Mr. Presiding Officer. Besides, I was born in Inagawan, a barrio of Puerto Princesa which is only about 12 kilometers from Aborlan. Puerto Princesa has no affinity with the northern town, unlike its affinity with the southern towns, Mr. Presiding Officer.
So, contiguity as required by the 1986 Constitution will not be satisfied if we adopt the COMELEC report, with due respect to the COMELEC.
Mr. Presiding Officer, I, therefore, move that the City of Puerto Princesa be included in the second district.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): What does the committee say?
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: May I just ask the effect on the population allocation if we move an entire city to one site?
MR. NOLLEDO: Mr. Presiding Officer, if we will adopt the original report, the first district will have a total of 265,000 as against 186,000 in the Second District.
If we transfer Puerto Princesa to the second district, the first district will have a total of 190,000, while the second district will have a total of 262,213. There is no material alteration, Mr. Presiding Officer.
Thank you for the question.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee, Mr. Presiding Officer, accepts the proposed amendment. Under the second district then, the following will have to be inserted before "Aborlan": "PUERTO PRINCESA CITY AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ABORLAN, BALABAC, BATARASA, BROOKE'S POINT, NARRA, QUEZON, AND MARCOS."
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. NOLLEDO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. RAMA: Mr. President, I ask that Commissioner Jamir be recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: If there is no other amendment for Palawan, may I move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of Palawan, as amended.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. RAMA: I ask that Commissioner Jamir be recognized to present his motion.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Jamir is recognized.
MR. JAMIR: Mr. Presiding Officer, I presented my motion this morning with my arguments in support thereof. In fact, at the time we suspended our session this morning, it was almost ready for voting. So, I move that we go to a vote.
Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. PADILLA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Padilla is recognized.
MR. PADILLA: May I just ask a question of our friend, Commissioner Jamir, as to a statement of former Justiniano Montano, which reads:
My town of Tanza, for instance, is forced by Jamir to a marriage with the remote Municipality of Carmona near Biñan, Laguna. From Tanza to reach Carmona, you have to drive nearly two hours through a road in the unpopulated middle hinterland, only meeting occasional farmers.
My question is, if Tanza and Carmona are in one district, are they contiguous or adjacent to constitute a compact territory?
MR. JAMIR: Mr. Presiding Officer, of course Carmona is not contiguous with Tanza because Carmona is at one end of the line and Tanza is another but the towns in between are connected. I am afraid that it is not correct to say that from Tanza to Carmona or from Carmona to Tanza you will be passing through an uninhabited hinterland. The fact is that, the national road from Carmona to Tanza or rather to Dasmariñas first is a first-class road where vacationists going to Matabungkay Beach in Batangas from the Manila area pass through for about 40 kilometers, and then from Dasmariñas going to Trece Martires, there is about 30 kilometers of paved road and many houses. In fact, as I said this morning, even in the town of Carmona there are about 9,000 toilets built by the Marcos people.
MR. PADILLA: The Gentleman says that the intervening towns comprising one district will be a compact territory. I think the primordial consideration in the districting is that the district should form adjacent or contiguous territory to form a compact district. Do I understand that while Tanza and Carmona are far apart, the intervening towns comprising the same district are together?
MR. JAMIR: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. PADILLA: With these two?
MR. JAMIR: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. PADILLA: Therefore, the Gentleman would still say they constitute one compact, contiguous and adjacent territory?
MR. JAMIR: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer. If the Gentleman will allow me, I want to name the towns. From Carmona, we have General Alvarez, Dasmariñas, then Trece Martirez or Tanza and then General Trias and then Trece Martires City; they are all together.
MR. PADILLA: They are all together because I recall that in a luncheon meeting where Congressman Montano was showing the map of Cavite, stressed that Tanza is very far from Carmona or Carmona is very far from Tanza and it will practically cross the province.
MR. JAMIR: That is true and that was what he said, but as I pointed out, is not correct. It is not 200 kilometers between them; there is no place in the entire Cavite Province where one direction is more than 200 kilometers in the other direction. From east to west is less than 200 kilometers. Cavite is a very small province.
MR. BENGZON: It takes two hours by car.
MR. JAMIR: No. that is not correct.
MR. BENGZON: From Tanza to Carmona.
MR. JAMIR: I think that was what he stated, but that is not correct.
MR. PADILLA: Another question; I understand that there was first a COMELEC suggestion or report.
MR. JAMIR: Yes.
MR. PADILLA: Then the Gentleman made a recommendation that was approved by the COMELEC.
MR. JAMIR: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. PADILLA: But, thereafter, the COMELEC again sort of changed its mind to maintain the former redistricting.
MR. JAMIR: I have not been informed that the COMELEC changed its mind. In fact, Executive Director Vicente de Lima is waggling his head. That is not correct.
MR. PADILLA: Because it seems that the choice is between the COMELEC recommendation and the Gentleman's suggestion.
MR. JAMIR: As it now stands, yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. PADILLA: What is the position of the COMELEC?
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: May I request that Director de Lima be recognized so he could show to the Commission the difference of the two proposals on the basis of the map of Cavite.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes, Director de Lima may be allowed to explain, and what he says would be included in the Record.
The Rules is suspended to allow him to make the explanation?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Does the Gentleman say that we should meet as a committee of the whole. I understand this is rather unusual.
MR. DAVIDE: For purposes of allowing Director de Lima, under the suspended Rules, I move that the Commission be constituted as a committee of the whole for that purpose.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
Director de Lima is recognized.
MR. DE LIMA: In our original submission dated July 28, 1986, our formulation for the seat for the Province of Cavite into three districts was as follows:
For the first district, we have the following municipalities: Alfonso, on the eastern side, Amadeo, General Emilio Aguinaldo. . .
MR. JAMIR: Excuse me, that is not eastern, that is western.
MR. DE LIMA: Whatever, Mr. Presiding Officer.
The first district is composed of: Alfonso, Amadeo, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Mendez Nuñez, Tagaytay, which was formerly part of Carmona.
The second district comprised of: Bacoor, Kawit, Dasmariñas, and Imus. The third district includes: General Trias, Maragondon, Naic, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Ternate, Cavite City and Trece Martires.
On August 12, 1986, we submitted the proposal of Commissioner Jamir and in our submission we stated that the tradition constitutes in the name of the rearrangement of municipalities within the several districts without due regard to the standard criteria of contiguity, compactness, adjacentness and relative uniformity of population within each district. More importantly, the revised apportionment, as suggested by them — we are referring to Commissioners Sumulong for Rizal Province, Alberto Jamir for Cavite Province, Mayor John Osmeña for Cebu Province and a delegation from Sorsogon — take into account special circumstances and considerations. For these reasons, we have no objection to the revised plans of apportionment. We are submitting the matter for the consideration of the committee. In this submission of August 12, 1986, we accepted the Jamir proposal which provides for the following apportionment: First district: Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario and Cavite City. The first district will have a population of 322,862. The second district: We have Imus, Dasmariñas, Carmona, General Mariano Alvarez, General Trias, Tanza and Trece Martires City. Imus, Mr. Presiding Officer, is here. The population under this formulation for the second district is 337,659. And the third district: We have Alfonso, Amadeo, General Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez-Nuñez, Naic, Silang, Ternate and Tagaytay City. The population for the third district under this submission is 286,470 for a total population of the Province of Cavite of 946,991.
The rationale we accepted the proposal of Commissioner Jamir, as contained in his submission, was that, first, in the proposal of Commissioner Jamir was the observation that each of the three districts will have one city. The first district will have Cavite City, the second district will have Trece Martires City, and the third district will have Tagaytay City.
In the first division, in the first formulation by the COMELEC, there are two cities in the third district, no city in the second district and one city, Tagaytay City, in the first district.
MR. BENNAGEN: May I know why the distribution of cities is an important consideration.
MR. DE LIMA: At least, that was one of the observations made in the proposal.
MR. BENNAGEN: Is that a consideration in the division of the. . .
MR. DE LIMA: Of course not, Mr. Presiding Officer. The principal consideration as submitted to us by the proponent, the Honorable Commissioner Jamir, was the fact that one district was supposed to be a fishing area, the other was a vegetable and fruit area, and the other was a rice-growing area.
MR. BENNAGEN: Why should that be a consideration?
MR. DE LIMA: That is in the community of interest under the standard of compactness.
MR. BENNAGEN: But in the proposed third district, Ternate is included.
MR. DE LIMA: As we have said, that was the formulation of Commissioner Jamir. In fact, our first formulation was without regard to any recommendation from the province. And then, when we first made our submission of July 28, 1986, that was when we received the proposal of Commissioner Jamir.
MR. BENNAGEN: My understanding is that in the COMELEC proposal, the communication and the road network is more reflective of the conditions in the various districts. Is that correct? Since that is the COMELEC's proposal, was that considered in the COMELEC's proposal?
MR. DE LIMA: From our view of the whole province of Cavite, all towns are interlinked with each other by good roads.
BISHOP BACANI: May I ask a question of Director de Lima.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bacani is recognized.
BISHOP BACANI: What was the decisive factor that made the Gentleman accept the Jamir proposal?
MR. DE LIMA: Because of the factors pointed out in the Jamir proposal that one area was a fishing area, the other was a rice-growing area, and the third was a fruit and vegetable area. Therefore, there was a commonality of interest, economic commonality of interest of the population therein.
BISHOP BACANI: But very obviously there is a great disparity in the land area.
MR. DE LIMA: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer, perhaps, but we are more guided by the standard of uniformity or relative uniformity of population. It will be pointed out that in other regions, in other provinces, a district may consist only of one-tenth of the land area of their province because they may be very populous in relation to the mountainous area or hinterlands.
BISHOP BACANI: Did I rightly hear the Gentleman say that the towns in each district are all interlinked with each other by good roads?
MR. DE LIMA: That is as pointed out by the map that there are interlinking roads.
BISHOP BACANI: And they make all of the different towns in each district accessible to each other?
MR. DE LIMA: It would seem so, Mr. Presiding Officer.
BISHOP BACANI: Thank you.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: We are ready now to vote, but there is a consensus that we would vote by secret balloting, and with the consent of the proponent.
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Ople is recognized.
MR. OPLE: I intend to support publicly, in spite of the secret ballot, the Jamir-COMELEC proposal. But before we vote, may I just put one question to Commissioner Jamir please.
I can claim a bit of familiarity with the Imus-Kawit-Bacoor area, and it is quite correct, I believe, that historically they have seen themselves as forming a common constituency. How emotionally wrenching will this be for the people of Imus, for example, to be detached now, for the first time, from the historic association with Kawit and Bacoor? Will this have an emotional impact or an unsettling impact on the tranquillity of, let us say, the people of Imus?
MR. JAMIR: Let me preface my answer to that, Mr. Presiding Officer, by stating this. My late father was born in Imus. Most of my relatives on my father's side are from Imus — the Jamirs and the Monzons there. In fact, the recently replaced mayor of Imus, Jose Jamir, has been the mayor of Imus for 19 years. So, personally, I have no inconvenience. My mother is from Kawit. I was born and bred and still live in Kawit. To me, it is entirely of no consequence personally. But, as I stated in my concern this morning, the most important reason I proposed this manner of districting is my desire to honor the provisions of our new Constitution regarding elimination of political dynasties as much as possible. The towns of Bacoor, Imus and Kawit, for a long time, have been the enclave of political power of the late Governor Dominador Camerino. The towns of Tanza, Rosario and Naic, for a long time, have been — and I think up to now — the political enclave of the Montano faction. After martial law, I understand that former Governor Remulla had been able to establish his own domain in the upland towns now forming the Third District which I have represented. So, my idea is this: If we separate Imus from Bacoor and Kawit, somehow the political enclave will be diluted. The same thing is true with Tanza, Naic and Rosario.
Now, to answer the Gentleman's question whether it will create any political and emotional impact between Imus and Bacoor, let me tell you that there is no sense of brotherhood at all between Bacoor and Imus. The people of Bacoor are almost entirely fishing people, living from the sea, fishponds, oysters, et cetera; while the town of Imus is a rice-growing region. Their interests are separate and even their political inclinations in local politics are different. So there is nothing to worry about on that score.
MR. OPLE: Thank you very much.
MR. JAMIR: I will make that sort of assurance.
MR. BENNAGEN: Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, before we proceed any further.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: I move that the committee of the whole constituted under the suspended Rules be deemed terminated and we resume in plenary.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Thank you, I was about to make that of record.
Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENNAGEN: I do not have any political interest in Cavite or in any other province, but I would like to comment on the observation that the overriding consideration for the proposal is to break up a political dynasty. If we hold on to that argument, I suppose other districts elsewhere should also be subjected to that kind of treatment.
Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. RAMA: I move for the previous question that we vote in secret.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection to a vote by secret balloting? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee would offer no objection.
MR. JAMIR: Will you please clarify how we will vote.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Does Commissioner Jamir want to be clarified?
MR. JAMIR: Yes. Since my amendment is an amendment by substitution, I propose that we vote on the Jamir proposal. Those voting yes are in favor of the Jamir proposal; those voting no are against.
REV. RIGOS: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Rigos is recognized.
REV. RIGOS: That means if we vote yes, we in effect are voting for the Jamir proposal. Is that correct?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes, I believe that is correct.
Is that correct, Commissioner Jamir? If we vote yes were are voting for your proposal?
MR. JAMIR: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: For the guidance of the Commission, under the Jamir proposal we shall have the following:
First District: Bacoor, Kawit Noveleta, Rosario and Cavite City.
Second District: Imus, Dasmariñas, Carmona, General Mariano Alvarez, General Trias, Tanza and Trece Martires City.
Third District: Alfonso, Amadeo, Gen. Aguinaldo, Indang, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez-Nuñez, Naic, Silang, Ternate and Tagaytay City.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): As many as are in favor of the Jamir proposal, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)
As many as are against, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)
As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)
The results show 27 votes in favor, 6 against and 1 abstention; the Jamir proposal is approved.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized.
MR. BENGZON: I have a few announcements to make as chairman of the Steering Committee. The printer is now ready for the review of the galley proofs. I request all those who are interested in reading the galley proofs to please proceed to the NMPC this afternoon as soon as possible; tomorrow will be too late because they will run the Constitution in final form.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon, point of information. It was said this morning that the galley proofs will be brought here tomorrow.
MR. BENGZON: There is no more time for that, Mr. Presiding Officer. They said that it would be more convenient for the printing of the Constitution if the Commissioners, particularly the chairmen, who wish to review their respective articles would go there and it has to be this afternoon.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): How about this evening?
MR. BENGZON: It may still be on time. So if we can finish this session as soon as possible, then we can immediately report to the NMPC.
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Ople is recognized.
MR. OPLE: May I put just one question, the ultimate question, to the chairman of the Steering Committee
Supposing, in spite of all the many pairs of eyes that would scrutinize the galley proofs today and in spite of the optimum vigilance that will be exerted, what comes out in the end is a Constitution with a few missing sections or missing lines, what remedy will be available?
MR. BENGZON: I think we just have to have that reprinted. But the one that controls would be the draft that we have approved. For as long as the defects are typographical errors or mistakes in sequencing or missing lines, if the draft that we have approved is perfect and in accordance with our decision, that is the one that controls.
MR. OPLE: So the controlling text will actually be the draft that we have approved?
MR. BENGZON: Yes.
MR. OPLE: And not the printed copy?
MR. BENGZON: It has to be that.
MR. OPLE: That is very reassuring. What about the text that we will sign on Wednesday, will that not be finally the controlling text?
MR. BENGZON: It should be the controlling text, on the assumption that we do not have those typographical errors or any other mistakes that do not change the substance or even the form, as long as they are just mistakes of omission.
MR. OPLE: Thank you very much.
I think it is very necessary to put these views of the Steering Committee on the record.
MR. BENNAGEN: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENNAGEN: May I inquire into the status of the Filipino text and as to the manner in which it will be signed, particularly because it is of equal importance as the English text.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer, Commissioners Villacorta and de los Reyes are charged with the finalization of the Tagalog text.
MR. BENGZON: Yes, the Filipino text. I stand corrected.
I was informed this morning that the printer for this Filipino text is not the Media Center. The text was given to a private printer. That is why Commissioners Villacorta and de los Reyes were charged to monitor this.
MR. BENNAGEN: Will it be signed alongside with the English text?
MR. BENGZON: We are very hopeful that it will signed on Wednesday, together with the English text. That is why Commissioners de los Reyes and Villacorta will be there.
MR. BENNAGEN: Suppose there are objections to the translation in terms of violation of concepts?
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. BENGZON: Then I guess the English text would have to prevail because that is the one on which we formulated the Constitution.
MR. BENNAGEN: Yes, but what do we do with the objections to the Filipino translation?
MR. BENGZON: We will have to make that of record somehow.
MR. BENNAGEN: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: I would like to suggest that any translations that are made, even if we sign them, be constituted as draft, because I do not think that we should sign any translation that we have not really studied ourselves. The only text that has been approved by this body is the English text. I do not think we can delegate to anybody the finalization of any other version that we ourselves have not gone through individually.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes.
MR. BENNAGEN: With that observation, what should be the final act that will make the Filipino text an official version?
MR. BENGZON: I was just reminded Madam President that the promulgation of the Filipino text will come after the ratification, so we have plenty of time for the translation and we have plenty of time to review this.
MR. BENNAGEN: Will this Commission come together again to put its official signature on the text? What is the final act that will finally render the Filipino text official?
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Ople is recognized.
MR. OPLE: It may not be possible because of different personal exigencies in the lives of the Commissioners to gather them again with a fair and reasonable attendance. Will Commissioner Bennagen consider a referendum among the Commissioners as sufficient?
MR. BENNAGEN: I do not think it is for me to say so. I am just inquiring into the mechanism.
MR. OPLE: Yes, that is by way of putting an alternative proposal in lieu of getting together which may no longer be possible.
MR. BENNAGEN: If the body so decides, then I suppose we can.
MR. OPLE: Then the Tagalog, I mean, the Filipino text can be circulated by the holdover Secretariat to the Commissioners for their direct verification. And if they have any urgent proposals for corrections, these can be conveyed to the Secretariat. It may be necessary to designate an ad hoc committee to consolidate all proposals so that on the date to be fixed by the President immediately after the ratification of the Constitution, this finalized text can be promulgated.
Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: Just to complete that suggestion, I believe that the operative act should be our signature on a version in Filipino — that the moment we sign it then we agree, and that means we verified it. I think Commissioner Bennagen is precisely asking what is the final operative act.
MR. BENNAGEN: Yes.
MR. MONSOD: It should be our own signatures.
MR. BENNAGEN: Yes, that is right and how is that to be done?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): May the Chair raise a question? After we sign on the 1 5th, are we functus officio?
MR. MONSOD: Yes, but I suggested that what we sign on the 15th be considered a draft if it is not the English text, and the final text in Filipino will have to be signed by us personally by referendum if necessary before it is considered the official translation.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): , but that is the question of the Chair. We will sign what supposedly will be the approved text after we are no longer in office.
MR. BENNAGEN: Yes, but if we agree now to the final act, then I suppose it will have the same official weight. The thing is, we should not leave this hanging because I think it is of equal importance as the English text.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Chair would like the legal opinion of the Commissioner.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized.
MR. BENGZON: I wonder whether all of these suggestions would still be necessary because I am sure that before the promulgation of the translation by the President, she would have to verify whether or not this is a faithful translation of the English text. So there may not be any need for us to assemble anymore and really scrutinize and verify. As a matter of fact, even if each of us were given a copy of this, we would have to verify this. In my case, for example, I would run to the proper government agency. I am sure that the Office of the President would ensure that the translated text is faithful to the original text in English.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bacani is recognized.
BISHOP BACANI: Mr. Presiding Officer, I missed part of the discussion. Does that mean that we will have only one controlling text? Have we decided on that?
MR. BENNAGEN: The Constitution is silent on that.
BISHOP BACANI: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I speak from my own experience in the Catholic Church.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Commissioner may proceed.
BISHOP BACANI: We have the Code of Canon Law and the original that is given to the Episcopate of the whole world is in Latin but there are translations that are authorized. Nevertheless, we are told that the only authentic text which shall be the basis of future interpretation is the Latin text. In case there is any doubt then the sense of the Latin text will prevail- Maybe we can do the same here Let us have one authentic text which will be the controlling text and we can have authorized translations of that text which will have a certain authority. But for final interpretation, it will have to be the English text which will prevail not for any anti-nationalistic reasons but simply because we discussed here most of the time in English and we decided on the basis of the English text that we had before us.
Thank you.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized.
MR. BENGZON: It has already been approved by motion of Commissioner Rodrigo that in case of conflict, it will have to be the English text that will prevail. That was already approved during our plenary session.
MR. MONSOD: No, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Chair does not believe so.
MR. MONSOD: I do not think so, Mr. Presiding Officer. I think we should make it now, if we want to, just to formalize it. I remember that the provisions in the Constitution are silent on this.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes. There was a motion to put that in the Constitution and we decided to remain silent about it.
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Ople is recognized.
MR. OPLE: If I may be allowed a recollection of the debates at that time, the Committee on Human Resources, headed by Commissioner Villacorta, did decide not to take a position on a controlling text. I think the presumption they adhered to was that the English and Filipino texts would be equal in rank for purposes of serving as the official text of the promulgated Constitution. However, there is nothing to prevent this Commission from acknowledging the fact, as it has been acknowledged now, that the original draft was written in English and the deliberations mainly were conducted in English and that, therefore, for legal purposes, the English text could be considered controlling, for example, in courts of law, but only for purely legal purposes. We want to hold on, I am sure, to the symbolic equality of both texts.
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: I would like to formally move that the controlling text will be English, in case there is a conflict.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): For legal purposes.
MR. MONSOD: For legal purposes.
MR. BENGZON: I second the motion.
MR. BENNAGEN: Objection, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DE CASTRO: Precisely, that was my motion when we were talking about the interpretation of this Constitution, that it should be in English and Filipino. I put a sentence there that for the interpretation, it will be the English text but it was voted down. I remember that because I was the one who moved for that. So, there is nothing in the Constitution except English and Filipino.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: What I am saying, Mr. Presiding Officer, is that while it may not be in the Constitution, we can adopt a resolution. Because if we do not adopt such a resolution, the circumstances with which this is being printed will give rise to a certain amount of conflict and confusion. What we have approved is the English text. If there is a Filipino translation and it is done after October 15, we are functus officio. So, the way to resolve this matter is to pass a resolution now, while we are still in existence, in order to avoid that confusion.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. BENNAGEN: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENNAGEN: I think there are two problems here. One is conceptual which is to say that we should give greater weight to the English text in terms of interpretation so as to obviate the possibility of conflict, particularly because we no longer have the time to give attention to the Filipino text the way that we have given attention to the English text. I do not think that a resolution to that effect, meaning a resolution saying that English should be the controlling text, is of any worth in relation to the provision relative to this in the Constitution itself. It will merely provide a way out of confronting the issue on the worth of the Filipino text.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: I think it is absolutely necessary that we have one controlling text — whether Filipino or English — if we do not want to submerge ourselves into interminable discussions and litigations. I do not know of any Constitution in the world where there are two official texts, and no controlling text. It is absolutely necessary because for practical reasons, there must be one text that would control. If we have two texts, both of them controlling, there would be no end to litigations and confusion and chaos. So I support the motion of Commissioner Monsod.
MR. BENGZON: Let us vote on that motion now, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. BENNAGEN: What is the weight of that resolution in relation to the Constitution itself?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Azcuna is recognized.
MR. AZCUNA: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
I just would like to amend the motion. Instead of mentioning English, we will just say that the language predominantly used in the deliberation be considered as prevailing in case of conflict so that we do not put English above the national language.
MR. BENNAGEN: Or the text in particular.
MR. AZCUNA: Yes. In case of conflict between the Filipino text and the English text, then the language predominantly used in the deliberations will prevail, which is the rule in all deliberative bodies.
MR. BENNAGEN: Also in practice, that would be the case.
MR. AZCUNA: Yes.
MR. BENNAGEN: But to say that English would be the controlling text is to render our decision in the Constitution, with respect to the worth of Filipino, useless.
MR. AZCUNA: Yes. It is not because English is superior to Filipino; it is merely because of accident, of the fact that we predominantly use English in the deliberations and under the rule travaux preparatoire, that is the language of the deliberation then it will prevail in case of conflict.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Does Commissioner Monsod accept the amendment?
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, does this mean that if there are certain sections in the deliberations that were sponsored or debated partly in Filipino, then in that particular session the dominant language is Filipino?
MR. AZCUNA: No. I said the language predominantly used, taken as a whole, which is English but without saying it is English.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): May Commissioner Azcuna state his amendment.
MR. AZCUNA: My amendment would be: "IN CASE OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FILIPINO TEXT AND THE ENGLISH TEXT, THEN THE LANGUAGE PREDOMINANTLY USED IN OUR DELIBERATIONS WILL PREVAIL."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Guingona is recognized.
MR. GUINGONA: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
I would like to support the Azcuna proposal and I would like to suggest that the sense he has expressed in answer to the question of Commissioner Monsod be also considered part of his proposal.
BISHOP BACANI: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bacani is recognized.
BISHOP BACANI: I would just like to hazard an answer to the question of Commissioner Bennagen. What would then be the force of such a resolution? I think the effect would be that we do adopt the sense of the English text as a body.
MR. BENNAGEN: How does that relate now to the Constitution as a text — I mean the approved resolution — granting that it will be approved?
MR. AZCUNA: The text of the Constitution would still be dual.
MR. BENNAGEN: No. Where do we put that resolution? Where would it be?
MR. AZCUNA: It will be an inorganic resolution which will guide the interpretation.
MR. BENNAGEN: Could it still be attached to the Constitution?]
MR. AZCUNA: No, it will just be an inorganic resolution which reflects the sense and intent of this body without being part of the Constitution.
MR. BENNAGEN: All right.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENGZON: May I propose an amendment to the amendment of Commissioner Azcuna.
MR. AZCUNA: Mr. Presiding Officer, that would be a tertiary amendment; maybe we can just confer.
MR. BENGZON: May we ask for a suspension of the session.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is suspended.
It was 4:10 p.m.
At 4:10 p.m. the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is resumed.
Commissioner Bengzon, may I just clarify something. This is, I gather, a resolution being presented to the body.
MR. BENGZON: Yes.
MR. AZCUNA: An inorganic resolution.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): And the motion is made within that context.
MR. BENGZON: Yes.
MR. AZCUNA: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Thank you.
MR. BENGZON: May I request that Commissioner Azcuna be recognized to restate his amendment.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Azcuna is recognized.
MR. AZCUNA: As reformulated with Commissioners Bengzon and Guingona, the motion we proposed by way of an amendment of Commissioner Monsod's motion is that, "IN CASE OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FILIPINO TEXT AND THE ENGLISH TEXT, THEN THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS PREDOMINANTLY USED IN THE DELIBERATION AS A WHOLE WILL PREVAIL."
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, I am accepting that amendment, but may I just make an inquiry from the Chair: Would it be possible to make that an ordinance? So it is not part of the body but one does not have to go through our records for it.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): No, but an ordinance would be appended to the Constitution, so it would become part of the Constitution. However, it seems to me that a resolution would be easily discovered.
MR. BENNAGEN: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENNAGEN: If the intent is to attach it to the Constitution, then I object to it because, as already pointed out by Commissioner de Castro, that was voted down in the deliberations. So, in a way, it is smuggling that concept into the Constitution.
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, I am just making an inquiry.
MR. BENNAGEN: No, I am saying that if that is the intent, I object to it because in practice anyway, it will be English which will be the final arbiter, since it was the predominant language used in the deliberations.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer, I was asking an inquiry from the Chair: If the resolution will serve the purpose, then it is not necessary to append it as an ordinance.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes. The Chair believes that the resolution will serve the purpose of expressing the intent of this Commission and would guide our courts accordingly.
MR. MONSOD: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer. May I ask for a vote. It may be without objection so it would be a unanimous vote, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection?
MR. BENNAGEN: Objection, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes, Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENNAGEN: I think it is a surplusage since in practice it will be the predominant language anyway that will be the controlling language.
MR. AZCUNA: Yes. We are just confirming that we follow that practice.
MR. BENNAGEN: All right.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Therefore, we will put it to a formal vote. Will Commissioner Azcuna once again patiently restate his resolution.
MR. AZCUNA: Mr. Presiding Officer, the resolution is: "IN CASE OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FILIPINO TEXT AND THE ENGLISH TEXT, THEN THE LANGUAGE PREDOMINANTLY USED IN OUR DELIBERATIONS WILL PREVAIL."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): As many as are in favor, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)
As many as are against, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)
As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)
The results show 24 votes in favor, 2 against and 3 abstentions; the resolution is approved.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I continue with my announcement.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized.
MR. BENGZON: This is now with respect to the program on Wednesday. Our assembly time is 8:45 a.m. at the South Lounge.
MR. BENNAGEN: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENNAGEN: I am not yet clear as to the mechanics by which we approved the final version of the Filipino text. I have a feeling that we are trying to relegate it into an inferior text.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Does Commissioner Bengzon like to answer that?
MR. BENGZON: What is the question now, Mr. Presiding Officer?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Will Commissioner Bennagen repeat the question.
MR. BENNAGEN: What is the mechanism by which we will be able to affix our signatures to the Filipino text to render it an official version, an official text, since the section appropriate to this says that Filipino and English should be the languages in which the Constitution shall be promulgated.
MR. BENGZON: The promulgation of the President is the operative act. That is why I said that we will have plenty of time for the translation to be made and to verify whether the translation is accurate. That is why I also said that I do not think there should be any problem about this, because before the Office of the President promulgates the translation of the Constitution into Filipino, I am sure they are going to verify whether it is an accurate translation.
MR. BENNAGEN: I think earlier the Secretary-General said that we might be able to sign also the Filipino text on Wednesday. Is that correct?
MR. BENGZON: Yes, we might be able to sign that on Wednesday.
MR. BENNAGEN: What will happen in the event that we will not be able to sign that?
MR. BENGZON: In the event we will not be able to sign that, the Office of the President will promulgate the Filipino text, then it becomes an official text.
MR. BENNAGEN: Hindi na natin pipirmahan? May symbolic value kasi sa akin iyong mismong Filipino text.
MR. BENGZON: We can decide whether or not we are going to sign it, but the fact is that after October 15, we become functus officio.
MR. BENNAGEN: That is precisely what I am asking. But there was a proposal by Commissioner Ople as to the manner in which the Members of this Commission might still be able to affix their signatures to the extension.
MR. BENGZON: If the Commissioner wants to pursue that point, we can talk about it, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is suspended.
It was 4:17 p.m.
At 4:27 p.m., the session is resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is resumed.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized
MR. BENGZON: After a discussion of the whole matter, may I now move that on October 15, 1986 we sign the Filipino text subject only to corrections at a later date with respect to the translation.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Will the Commissioner explain the process of correction.
MR. BENGZON: The process of correction will be made by the Office of the President before it is promulgated, if there are any corrections.
MR. BENNAGEN: I second the motion.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): And will that be based on individual observations of each Commissioner, if any?
MR. BENGZON: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. SUAREZ: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Suarez is recognized.
MR. SUAREZ: Thank you.
May I propose an amendment that we set a period before the promulgation.
MR. BENGZON: Yes, it will have to be done before the promulgation, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is Commissioner Suarez adding that to the motion?
MR. SUAREZ: Yes.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Does the Commissioner accept?
MR. BENGZON: We accept.
MR. SUAREZ: Thank you.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Guingona is recognized.
MR. GUINGONA: Since we are signing subject to that condition or reservation, I was thinking whether it would be appropriate if we should be involved in the mechanics even unofficially. We should get together, at least those of us who can get together, so that we could have a discussion. If we just send our own reservations, objections or comments, some of these may be conflicting and the Office of the President may not know how to resolve the conflict to the satisfaction of the Members of the Commission. So, I would suggest, without of course including that in the motion, that in the mechanics we should also be involved. I think the reservation is being made because we want to see the translation so that if we have any suggestion regarding possible changes, we might be able to do so. I understand and I realize, of course, that we would be already private citizens then, but there is nothing to stop us from meeting unofficially on this matter.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized.
MR. BENGZON: Since Commissioner Guingona said that that suggestion of his is not part of the motion, I think we could resolve this motion first and then agree to his suggestion.
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer, before we vote on this motion.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Ople is recognized.
MR. OPLE: May I know, who will arbitrate in the event of conflicting proposals on the Filipino text? There must be finality to controversies somewhere.
MR. BENGZON: The courts.
MR. OPLE: No, I mean with respect to any corrections of the Filipino text after we sign the text on Wednesday.
MR. BENGZON: We are leaving it to the Office of the President, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. OPLE: The Office of the President is, therefore, the final arbiter of any further questions on this text. Is that the intent of the Commission?
MR. BENGZON: The final arbiter actually, Mr. Presiding Officer, will be the courts.
MR. OPLE: No, the courts cannot arbitrate on corrections of the Filipino text.
MR. BENGZON: Is the Commissioner talking of the corrections?
MR. OPLE: Yes.
MR. BENGZON: Yes, the Office of the President, using its facilities including consultation with the proper government agency, naturally, will be the final arbiter as to any conflict.
MR. OPLE: Will that reflect to the independence of the Commission?
MR. BENGZON: If we say so and we so mean it, then it would.
MR. OPLE: Can we vest this power in the President of the Commission?
MR. BENGZON: Yes.
MR. OPLE: So the President, Cecilia Muñoz Palma, will be the supreme arbiter of any stylistic changes in the Filipino text after October 15.
MR. BENGZON: Yes.
MR. OPLE: Thank you.
MR. MONSOD: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Monsod is recognized.
MR. MONSOD: I just want to comment that in any case we have already passed a resolution about the controlling text, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): For legal purposes.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Just a minute. Would Commissioner Bengzon now state the motion together with the amendment of Commissioner Suarez and Ople?
MR. BENGZON: I move that we sign on October 15 the Filipino text, subject only to correction if necessary at a later date but in no case later than the promulgation of this Constitution and to be made by the Office of the President of this Commission with respect to the translation.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Guingona is recognized.
MR. GUINGONA: I am supporting the amendment of Commissioner Ople, and I would like to make the manifestation that this amendment would relate to our President, whether or not there is an extension as contemplated under a proposed executive order.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Does Commissioner Davide have a comment on the motion?
MR DAVIDE: For clarification only. The wording of the motion is to the effect that it should not be later than the promulgation of this Constitution. Should it not be later than the ratification of this Constitution? I ask because on Wednesday we will promulgate the English text by our signing.
MR. BENGZON: Yes, but we are not yet promulgating the Filipino text.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Are we ready to vote?
MR. BENGZON: All right, we will change to ratification, just to avoid any confusion.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I do not think there is a need.
MR. GUINGONA: May we ask, Mr. Presiding Officer, that the proponent again restate.
MR. BENGZON: We sign on October 15 the Filipino text, subject only to correction if necessary at a later date but in no case will it be later than the ratification of this Constitution to be made by the Office of the President of this Commission with respect to the translation.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I think the date should be much earlier than the ratification because the people are entitled to know the exact provisions, whether in Filipino or English, that they are voting for. If we are going to circulate the proposed Constitution in Filipino and at the time that they ratify or a day before ratification, we change the wording because of our appreciation as far as translation is concerned, it may not be fair to the voting public. I suggest that we give sufficient time, maybe a month from the time we sign. I suppose that within a month, we should be able to tell that there would be sufficient time for us to be able to deliberate and decide whether the translation is acceptable or not.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon is recognized.
MR. BENGZON: The phrase says "in no case later than." It could be tomorrow. It could be the day after. It could be October 16. It could be one week after October 16. And so, we said "not later than." We do not wish to put a specific date because we might be ready in two weeks.
MR. DE CASTRO: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner de Castro is recognized.
MR. DE CASTRO: I am ready to agree with that motion, but I have one doubt in my mind and that is after October 15 there is no more Office of the President of this Commission. We are all functus officio.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): We have precisely discussed that point.
MR. DE CASTRO: Can we extend the tenure of the President of this Commission?
MR. BENGZON: We request the Chair to reply because we have discussed this.
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Madam President is recognized.
THE PRESIDING: We have made representations with the Office of the President for an executive order that will authorize an ad hoc special committee to liquidate the affairs of the CONCOM so that anything like this would come within the authority that will be given to this ad hoc special committee. We have recommended that the President be the chairman of this special committee so that I believe that this will be all clarified when the executive order of the President comes out and I hope it will come out on Wednesday when we go to Malacañang.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Thank you, Madam President.
That clarified all questions.
MR. DE CASTRO: So that after October 15 there is still the Office of the President of this Commission.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Excuse me, Commissioner de Castro. We are now ready to vote.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DE CASTRO: No, I am just clarifying, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. GUINGONA: Just one word.
MR. DE CASTRO: I am clarifying this matter before we vote so that from that comments of our honorable President, there still is an Office of the President of this Commission after October 15.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): That is what the President just said.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Are we ready to vote?
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer, just one word.
MR. RAMA: The body is ready to vote. The matter has been sufficiently debated.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I would like to react to the statement of Commissioner Bengzon.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Guingona may proceed.
MR. GUINGONA: Commissioner Bengzon said that his motion sets a maximum period and, therefore, we may accept within a week or even by tomorrow. For the same reason, the acceptance may be delayed as late as a day before the ratification. What I am saying is that I think the people should know the correct translation, as accepted by us, before the ratification. They should have enough time to be able to be provided with the copy acceptable already to us before they vote.
Thank you.
MR. RAMA: The body is ready to vote.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection to the motion?
BISHOP BACANI: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I suggest an amendment which may satisfy Commissioner Guingona. My suggestion is that it should be corrected at the most two weeks after the signing of the English text.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): May the Chair say that if we make such stipulation. we will not be able to change that after this and we will make it inflexible. In any case, the ad hoc committee in charge of this translation can be counted upon to be pushing the translators practically everyday. So, I think we do not have a problem from a practical point of view.
BISHOP BACANI: We are now ready to vote, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection?
MR. GUINGONA: I object, Mr. Presiding Officer, as far as the period is concerned.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Let us vote then.
MR. BENNAGEN: One little observation which might help us allay our anxieties, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bennagen is recognized.
MR. BENNAGEN: I know most of those who are involved in the translation are scholars and colleagues, and they are excellent scholars. I just raised the questions of translation on the basis of the worst case scenario. I am sure that they will do an excellent job.
MR. GUINGONA: In view of that, I am withdrawing my objection.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I think Commissioner Bennagen's statement supports what I have just said.
Is there any objection to the motion as read by Commissioner Bengzon? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. BENGZON: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I continue with the announcement.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Please do not make it too long because we have a committee meeting.
MR. BENGZON: Yes. Assembly time is 8:45 at the South Lounge. As agreed in the caucus, the attire of the Gentlemen will be black pants and Barong Tagalog. The spouses are invited at Malacañang. Departure by assigned bus at the main entrance is two o'clock p.m. Departure by air-conditioned bus at the main entrance is two o'clock p.m. and there will be lunch served to the spouses.
MR. GUINGONA: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I just inquire.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Guingona is recognized.
MR. GUINGONA: Are the busses only for the Commissioners or for their spouses too?
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Madam President is recognized.
THE PRESIDENT: We have requested two air-conditioned buses for the Commissioners and their spouses.
MR. GUINGONA: Thank you.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Bengzon, the Chair has a question. Does lunch here at the Commission include our spouses but not the other members of the family?
MR. BENGZON: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Thank you.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. BENGZON: We can have a maximum of two guests, meaning, the spouse and an additional one.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Thank you.
Commissioner Davide may now please proceed.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I think we are ready to approve the apportionment and districting of Cavite.
MR. DAVIDE: It had already been approved. The amendment of Commissioner Jamir was approved by the body.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes, the next section.
MR. DAVIDE: But not yet on any other region. I understand that Commissioner Maambong has amendments to the apportionment and districting of Quezon.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Maambong is recognized.
MR. MAAMBONG: Mr. Presiding Officer, I was just looking at the map, and I do not know if this will be supported by the committee. But the way I look at it, Lucena City is misplaced while there are two others — Tayabas and Lucban — which are also misplaced in terms of contiguity and being adjacent to each.
In other words, what should have been proposed now should have been the original configuration as submitted in this report of the COMELEC. In the report of the COMELEC, the first district included Tayabas and Lucban under item nos. 9 and 10, and the second district included Lucena under item no. 6.
So, I am suggesting that in order to comply with the requirements of contiguity and being adjacent to each other, the original COMELEC proposal should be retained.
MR. DAVIDE: In other words, the proposal, Mr. Presiding Officer, is to transfer Lucban and Tayabas to the first district, and to delete therefrom Lucena City and transfer it to the second district.
MR. MAAMBONG: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer, in accordance with the configuration on the map.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee has no objection and is accepting the amendment. And to appear now for Quezon, Lucena City will be in the first district. After "Pagbilao," insert "LUCBAN, TAYABAS" and a comma (,). For the second district, delete "Tayabas" and "Lucban" and in lieu thereof insert the following: "CITY OF LUCENA AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF." Then the enumeration — “Candelaria, Dolores, San Antonio, Sariaya and Tiaong" — follows.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none, the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: There are no other further amendments for the whole of Region IV, so I move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces, together with the cities, comprised in Region IV; namely: Aurora, with one district, as Batangas, with the cities of Batangas and Lipa, with four districts as enumerated in the ordinance; Cavite with the Cities of Tagaytay, Cavite and Trece Martires, with three; Laguna, with San Pablo City, with four; Marinduque, with one; Occidental Mindoro, with one; Oriental Mindoro, with two; Palawan, with Puerto Princesa City, with two; Quezon, with Lucena City, with four; Rizal, with two; Romblon, with one district.
I move for the approval of the entire apportionment and districting of the provinces and cities in Region IV.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, this morning we deferred consideration of Region III. May I propose that we go back then to Region III.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Commissioner will please proceed.
MR. DAVIDE: I seek for the recognition of Commissioner Suarez for certain amendments for Nueva Ecija.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Suarez is recognized.
MR. SUAREZ: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
May I propose one amendment. So that there will be no confusion, may I read the constitution of the first district, second district, third district and fourth district. So, if my list agrees with the list of the committee, then we will facilitate the amendment, Mr. Presiding Officer.
My list is as follows: First district — Nampicuan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Licab, Quezon, Sto. Domingo, Aliaga and Zaragoza. Originally, Talugtog was included. Second district — Lupao, Muñoz, Talavera, San Jose City, Caranglan, Pantabangan, Llanera and Rizal. Third district — Cabanatuan City, General Natividad, Palayan City, Bongabong, Laur, Gabaldon and Sta. Rosa. Fourth district — San Leonardo, General Tinio, Peñaranda, Gapan, San Isidro, Cabiao, San Antonio and Jaen.
The proposed amendment is only the transfer of Talavera to the first district, instead of Talugtog; and Talugtog will be transferred to the second district.
MR. DAVIDE: Talavera will belong to the first district.
MS. SUAREZ: Talavera to the first district instead of Talugtog, because of the geographical factors that have already been repeatedly mentioned by the Honorable Maambong, which are contiguity and being adjacent to each other.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee accepts the amendments. So the First District of Nueva Ecija will be comprised of the following municipalities: Nampicuan, Cuyapo, Guimba, Quezon, Talavera, Licab, Sto. Domingo, Aliaga and Zaragoza.
The second district will now be comprised of the following: Lupao, Muñoz, San Jose City, Caranglan, Pantabangan, Llanera, Rizal and Talugtog.
MR. SUAREZ: That is right, Mr. Presiding Officer.
Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: I move for its approval, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the proposed amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: There are no other proposed amendments to Region III. I move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces and the cities of the following provinces in Region III, together with the component cities therein: Bataan with two, Bulacan with four, Nueva Ecija with four, Pampanga with four, Tarlac with three, Zambales with two.
That is all. Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the proposed amendment is approved.
Commissioner Sarmiento is recognized.
MR. SARMIENTO: Are we now in Region V, the Bicol Region, Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: This morning Commissioner Regalado made a reservation with the committee for the possible reopening of our approval of Region I with respect to Benguet with Baguio City. I do not know if he will insist on his proposal.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Regalado is recognized.
MR. REGALADO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
In the formulation of the committee, Baguio City and Tuba are placed in one district. I was toying with the idea that perhaps as a special consideration for Baguio, because it is the summer capital of the Philippines aside from the historical events that took place there and the important offices that we also have in Baguio City, we can divorce Tuba from Baguio City so that Baguio City by itself will have its own constituency and Tuba, I suppose, could be transferred to the second district, together with Itogon. In other words, this is a consideration for the summer capital of the Philippines which is also the summer residence of the President of the Philippines.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, if Benguet has a total population of 415,263, with Baguio City having 141,149 and if we remove Tuba from Baguio City. . .
MR. REGALDO: I realize, Mr. Presiding Officer, that the regular population of Baguio may be lower during certain parts of the year. But the transient population is not actually transient because those people have actually their residences there, only they do not reside there the whole year. During summer time, especially because of the presence of government offices there, the population substantially increases. I know that there are so many people who are not residents of Baguio but who have their homes there for purposes, however, only of business and professional transactions; but in summer time it is beyond question that population-wise, Baguio would more than qualify.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, if we have Baguio entitled to one seat, the rest of Benguet will have a total population of 274,114 while Baguio would only have 141,149. I was informed by Director de Lima that if we do not unite Tuba and Baguio, Tuba will actually be isolated from the rest of Benguet because we will have to pass by Baguio City before reaching Tuba.
MR. REGALADO: So there is that geographical objectionable feature.
MR. DAVIDE: There is one geographical difficulty there, however, I would rather throw it to the body.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is Commissioner Regalado insisting on his amendment?
MR. REGALADO: Let the body have the say on that. The considerations I gave only for Baguio are, of course. not the demographic aspects, strictly speaking, but as I have stated, it is a fact that it is the summer capital of the Philippines and the summer residence also of the Executive, aside from the fact that it is the venue and the situs of so many important government offices and functions.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): So is the Commissioner putting the motion to a vote?
MR. REGALADO: Yes, please, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: Before voting on that, Mr. Presiding Officer, I seek a reconsideration of the earlier approval of the apportionment and districting of Region I, more particularly for Benguet.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection to the motion for reconsideration of Region I, in particular Benguet? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: So, Mr. Presiding Officer, I move that the amendment of Commissioner Regalado be placed to a vote. The committee prefers that it should be thrown to the body.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): As many as are in favor of the Regalado amendment with regard to Baguio, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)
As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)
As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (One Member raised his hand.)
The results show 14 votes in favor, none against and one abstention; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: With the approval of that amendment, Benguet with Baguio City will have two seats. The first district will be comprised of the municipalities of Mankayan, Buguias, Bakun, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bokod Atok, Kapangan, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Itogon and Tuba. The second district will be composed of Baguio City alone.
I move for the approval of the entire apportionment and districting of the provinces and cities as shown in the ordinance for Region I.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none, the apportionment and districting of Region I is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: May we now proceed to Region V.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Please proceed.
MR. SARMIENTO: May I be recognized, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Sarmiento is recognized.
MR. SARMIENTO: This is in connection with the Province of Sorsogon, a part of the Bicol Region. A group of concerned Sorsogon citizens gave this Representation a petition requesting the amendment of the committee proposal. Being a Bicolano myself, I gladly accommodated that petition. Now, the petitioners are requesting the removal of two towns, Prieto Diaz and Gubat, from the first district and their transfer to the second district. Their proposal also asked for the transfer of Magallanes and Casiguran from the second district to the first district. May I briefly explain the reasons we are making this proposed amendment to the committee resolution.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The Gentleman may proceed.
MR. SARMIENTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, the people have been accustomed to have the kind of set up that we are proposing. By adhering to the above suggested groupings of municipalities, we will be avoiding a lot of confusion. Our proposal is the same set up that has been followed for years. This was the same division that was followed years before the proclamation of martial law.
Second, the dialects in the areas comprising the respective districts are almost similar. Everyone within a district could understand each other and most of the people in areas comprising the respective districts are related or know each other.
Another reason is that traveling by land or by sea from one municipality to another is easier within the area comprising each of the suggested districts. Traveling by sea is still common in Sorsogon. As recommended, the municipalities in each of the suggested two districts are compact and adjacent to each other.
Finally, the distribution of the population in the first and second districts is almost equal. The first district is bigger in population by only 8,392, as compared to the second district. In the committee's resolution, the difference is 34,288. In this regard, the suggested grouping by the concerned citizens of Sorsogon is superior. So, that is the basis of our proposed amendment to the committee's resolution.
MR. SUAREZ: Mr. Presiding Officer, will the Gentleman yield to only one question?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Suarez is recognized.
MR. SARMIENTO: Gladly, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. SUAREZ: Mr. Presiding Officer, will this proposal serve to destroy the idea of warlordism in Sorsogon?
MR. SARMIENTO: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. SUAREZ: Then I will support his motion, Mr. Presiding Officer.
Thank you.
MR. SARMIENTO: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer.
As a matter of fact, during the committee deliberations, Atty. de Lima manifested the observation of Atty. del Prado, the leader of the group of concerned Sorsogueños. He conceded that Atty. del Prado's group has a personal first hand knowledge of the conditions and the situations in that area.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: Our only concern is that between Casiguran, which will stay in the second district, and Magallanes which is proposed to be transferred to the first district, we have the municipality of Juban, which will still be in the second district. In other words, to reach Magallanes from Casiguran, we will have to pass by Juban. So, we will have to jump over one municipality.
MR. SARMIENTO: May we ask for a suspension of the session.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is suspended.
It was 5:04 p.m.
At 5:13 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is resumed.
MR. RAMA: I ask that Commissioner Sarmiento be recognized.
MR. SARMIENTO: We move that the towns of Prieto Diaz and Gubat be transferred from the first district to the second district; and that the towns of Magallanes and Casiguran be transferred from the Second District to the First District of Sorsogon.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee would prefer to throw it to the body, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Are we ready to vote?
MR. RAMA: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer, we are ready to vote.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): As many as are in favor of Commissioner Sarmiento's amendment, please raise their hand. (Several Members raised their hand.)
As many as are against, please raise their hand. (No Member raised his hand.)
As many as are abstaining, please raise their hand. (Few Members raised their hand.)
The results show 16 votes in favor, none against and 2 abstentions; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: In lieu of that particular amendment, Sorsogon will have two seats with the first district to be comprised of the following municipalities: Sorsogon, Pilar, Donsol, Castilla, Bacon, Casiguran and Magallanes. The second district will be comprised of the following municipalities: Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Juban, Bulusan, Irosin, Sta. Magdalena, Matnog and Bulan.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: I move for the approval of the districting then of Sorsogon, as thus amended.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the districting of Sorsogon, as amended, is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Since there are no other amendments for Region V, I propose the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces with the component cities comprised in Region V, to wit: Albay with Legazpi City, 3; Camarines Norte, 1; Camarines Sur including the Cities of Naga and Iriga, 4; Catanduanes, 1; Masbate, 3; Sorsogon, 2.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting of Region V is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: There are no further amendments for Region VI, I understand. So I move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces and cities in Region VI as follows: Aklan, 1; Antique, 1; Capiz including Roxas City, 2; Iloilo Province, 5; Iloilo City, 1; Negros Occidental with the Cities of San Carlos, Cadiz, Bago, La Carlota, and Silay, 6; Bacolod City, 1.
I so move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting of Region VI is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We now proceed, Mr. Presiding Officer, to Region VII.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, may I ask that Commissioner Maambong be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo). Commissioner Maambong is recognized.
MR. MAAMBONG: Mr. Presiding Officer, we will first try to get clarification on Cebu City which from the report consists of two districts indicated as first and second district. I have asked the representative of the COMELEC to furnish me a copy of the map of Cebu City and with specific reference to the second district. I would like to indicate that in the map, Busay is supposed to be on the side of the first district. I do not know if the committee will confirm this but clearly in the map, Busay is beside Banilad, Barrio Talamban and Barrio Lahug and I cannot understand why it is indicated here in the second district. May we have a comment of the committee on this, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: With the natural boundary composed of the Guadalupe River or the City of Cebu, we determined that all barangays south of the said river should constitute one district and all those to the north thereof should also constitute another district. So under the scheme that we have presented, all those north of the said river will be the first district and all those south of said river will be the second district and it was just by inadvertence that Busay was included in the second district; it should indeed be in the first district if we follow the natural boundary.
MR. MAAMBONG: With that clarification, I move that Busay, which is indicated in the committee report to be with the second district, be transferred to the first district.
MR. DAVIDE: May I propose that it should be placed between Apas and Bacayan on line 2 for Cebu City because Busay is adjacent to Apas.
MR. MAAMBONG: That would be fine, but I notice in the report that he is doing it alphabetically; anyway, it would still be letter B. So I think the placement is all right.
MR. DAVIDE: Or after Budla-an, rather, second line.
MR. MAAMBONG: After Budla-an, yes, in compliance with the alphabetical sequencing, yes.
MR. DAVIDE: Following the recommendation, we accept the amendment and it should be inserted after Budla-an, the second line, for Cebu City. So Budla-an, Busay.
I move for its approval, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. MAAMBONG: I would have wanted to ask this question, but I notice that in the committee report, Guadalupe is properly in the second district. I was made to understand that there was a recommendation of certain sectors that Guadalupe be in the first district and I would have objected to it. But now it is already in the second district where it properly belongs, so I will not press the point.
May we go to the province, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: Just for the record, the committee received the Commissioner's objections, which he wanted to telegraph; and so we restored Guadalupe to the second district.
MR. MAAMBONG: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer, in accordance with the natural boundaries which has been stated by the committee.
May we go to the province, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: We are ready, Mr. Presiding Officer, for the province, if there are any proposals or amendments.
MR. MAAMBONG: What I am going to recommend for the province would be very painful to me as a politician, but it could not be helped. In the report of the committee, I have no objection to the first district; it is all right. However, if I had wanted to act like a politician, I would have wanted very much to retain the original recommendation of the Commission on Elections which I have here, dated July 28, 1986, in the configuration of the second and third districts which were indicated in the previous report of the COMELEC as the seventh and eighth districts.
But I notice in that original COMELEC report, the second district comprised of 16 municipalities, and the third district to which this Representation belongs comprised of only six municipalities and one city.
In the present report which I have, the second district is now comprised of 14 municipalities.
Earlier on, I submitted a report to the committee wherein I made a study of the Province of Cebu. The recommendation I submitted was dated October 10, 1986, and I said in that recommendation, which later on I will insert for the Record, that in determining the district, we should perhaps adopt an unwritten rule that if the area of the district concerned is big, in all fairness, the population should be small. And if the area is small, we could live with a bigger population, in order to balance the area and population. And so, I am happy to note that in the report of the committee, it seems to follow that trend. However, I would like to equalize that by suggesting some amendments.
In the second district, I propose to add to the configuration the municipality of Dumanhog, and in the third district to which I belong — and this is now very painful to me — I would recommend that the town of Tuburan be added and with this, the third district would be the biggest in the Province of Cebu. But it could not really be helped if we have to be consistent with our recommendation which we have submitted to the committee.
In the fourth district, we will eliminate Tuburan and add the town of Tabogon; in the fifth district, we will eliminate the town of Tabogon and the sixth district will remain the same.
We will notice that in this proposal, the biggest district would be the third district, the second biggest would be the sixth district; and the third biggest would be the first district.
Now, how do we justify this: This can easily be justified by the fact that the first district has only six municipalities and, as I have stated, if the area is smaller, then we can live with the bigger population. In the case of the sixth district, we will notice that it has a population of 321,936, but again, the area is rather small; it is very compact because it consists only of two cities and two municipalities.
In the case of the third district, we have only six municipalities and one city. The smallest districts are the fourth and the fifth districts. Why are we making these smaller than the rest?
The reason is that in the case of the fourth district, which consists of nine municipalities, three of these municipalities are in the island of Bantayan, which is very inaccessible to a representative. So we have a lower population level of 291,444 in our recommendation.
In the case of the fifth district, the population is also low because there are few municipalities; there is one city and again in the district, we have one island of Camotes which is very far away from the mainland.
In the case of the second district, we had to lower the population level because we have 15 municipalities. So, we will start with my recommendation on the second district to add Dumanhog, a small municipality of 27,455 population.
Shall we take this up in lump sum, Mr. Presiding Officer, or shall we take this up by district?
MR. DAVIDE: We recommend that it should be taken up one by one.
MR. MAAMBONG: Then I ask for the approval of the first district where there is no change in the COMELEC and the committee recommendation.
MR. DAVIDE: Can we just proceed to the amendments so we will have an overall approval later?
MR. MAAMBONG: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer. In the second district, I propose to add Dumahog in the configuration, and the total population from our computation will be from 271,449 to 298,937.
In the third district, we eliminate Dumanhog and add Tuburan, with a total population of 47,353, making a total population of 331,204.
In the case of the fourth district, we eliminate Tuburan because we transferred it to the third district and we add the town of Tabogon with a population of 23,277 making a total population of 291,444.
In the fifth district, we eliminate the town of Tabogon which has already been tucked in to the fourth district and the population level in the fifth district could already be 283,051. In the sixth district, there is no recommendation, no change in the committee report.
MR. DAVIDE: In other words, for the Second District, it will now be as follows: Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Sanboan, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal, Alcantara, Ronda and Dumanjug.
MR. MAAMBONG: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: For the third district, it will now be: Barili, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, Toledo City, Balamban; delete the "and" between Asturias and Tuburan. Is that correct, Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. MAAMBONG: Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: For the Fourth District, it will be: Tabuelan, San Remigio, Sta. Fe. Bantayan, Madrilejos, Daanbantayan, Medellin. Delete the "and" before add "Bogo," after the word before then "Bogo, and TABOGON."
MR. MAAMBONG: Yes.
MR. DAVIDE: For the Fifth District, we will have the following: Borbon, Sugod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela and Pilar.
MR. MAAMBONG: Yes.
MR. DAVIDE: And no change in the sixth district.
MR. MAAMBONG: Yes.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee accepts, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is Commissioner Davide asking for approval?
MR. DAVIDE: We are asking for the approval of the amendments.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none: the amendments are approved.
MR. DAVIDE: I now move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces and cities, both urbanized and component, in Region VII, to wit: For Bohol, with the City of Tagbilaran, 3; for Cebu, with the Cities of Danao, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue, 6; for Cebu City, 2; for Negros Oriental, with the Cities of Bais, Canlaon and Dumaguete, 3; for Siquijor, 1.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting of Region VII is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We now proceed to Region VIII. There are no further amendments to Region VIII. So, may I propose the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces with component cities comprising Region VIII, to wit: Leyte, with the Cities of Tacloban and Ormoc, 5; Southern Leyte, 1; Eastern Samar, 1; Northern Samar, 2; Samar with Calbayog City, 2. With the component units therein indicated in each district per the ordinance.
I so move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence). The Chairs hears none, the apportionment and districting of Region VIII is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We now proceed to Region IX. I understand that Commissioner Abubakar has amendments for Sulu.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Abubakar is recognized.
MR. ABUBAKAR: Sulu, as far as contiguity is concerned, is a difficult place to follow because there are so many islands that are either close to the eastern section of the main island of Jolo and a cluster of islands in the other side.
In view of the proximity of the place, as well as the identity of dialect between the different districts, I suggested the rearrangement only in transfer of one district from the first to the second, as suggested by the committee. So that the first district would comprise the island of Jolo; then, Marungas, an island directly in front of Jolo which is reachable in an hour. Indanan is in Jolo island; Talipao is in Jolo island; Patikul is in Jolo island; New Panamao is in Jolo island; Tongkil is another island but very close to the mainland of Jolo; Caluang is in Jolo; Pangutaran is the only island but not so far from Jolo which is, in all businesses as well as other interests, very tied up to the capital of Jolo.
The second district is Siasi; this is the important and biggest town of the second district and a separate island south of Jolo is Pandami. Pandami is just part of Siasi or closer to Siasi itself. Tapul is another island very close to Siasi, economic and otherwise identified more with Siasi; Lugus is almost identical in interest; to tackle the population of these two in inter-merits as well as language and other characteristics is very close. Parang is the island of Jolo but we place it in the second because it is very close to Lugus and Tapul. Tapul can be seen from the island of Paranga. Maimbung is also close in the same area as Parang but we separate it into two municipalities. Pata is another island; it is close to Maimbung. As a matter of fact, people trade and even cross by vinta between Maimbung and Pata. And then Panamao is the other part that is along the coast and closer and identified with Siasi. Luuk is very close; it is in the island and it is famous for its brave fighters. This is the scene of many conflicts both during the American times and up to the present. It is closer to Panamao and so it is placed there. The second district, therefore, with the main island of Siasi is a configuration of some other islands whose territory is close to Siasi and more identical in its interest. So this should be the second district.
The second district is arranged in this order and for all purposes it would be easy for these enumerated municipalities to be brought together in the second district as well the enumerated municipalities in the first district, none of which are in the main island of Jolo except for Panguturan which is inhabited mostly by people who speak the Jolo dialect as well as Tongkil and which is very close to Jolo and also identified in all interest with Jolo. In the arrangement, therefore, this would be the proper consideration because it will make it difficult if we arrange it in another way. Jolo's communication is poor. The people's means of communication is by vinta; some of these islands along the coast are closer to each other and the interior towns are also closer to each other. Jolo, the capital, is reachable quite easily with the provinces enumerated in the first district. If the committee would like me to further elaborate or question me, I am ready.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): What does not committee say?
MR. DAVIDE: The committee desires to insist on its original recommendation because if we will now separate Panamao from New Panamao, and place Parang in the second district and Tongkil as well to the first, the configuration of the new proposed districting would violate principally the standard of contiguity. In the map, Panamao is adjacent to new Panamao, Luuk is very close to both Panamao and, therefore, the three must be together. Parang is also very close to Indanan and Talipao and Jolo. So if we place Parang in the second district, it would be isolated by the following municipalities: Talipao, Jolo and Maimbong.
MR. ABUBAKAR: Yes, but Parang is a coast municipality.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes. That is why it would be very close to Indanan and Talipao. That is why in the original committee proposal, the Panamaos, that is the old Panamao and the New Panamao, are grouped together. Unless they are grouped together and Parang is brought to the second district, Parang will be totally isolated, and new Panamao and old Panamao will, in effect, be isolated from one another.
So may we request his conformity to the committee proposal?
MR. ABUBAKAR: May I study the map of the whole island.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. ABUBAKAR: Meanwhile, may I make my reservation to see the committee. Jolo is compact and the division of these municipalities is rather haphazardly done.
MR. DAVIDE: May we request a deferment of the consideration of the proposed amendment.
MR. ABUBAKAR: May we have reservation until I can see the committee and the picture of the island itself?
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. ABUBAKAR: Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: And while the same is deferred may we continue, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes.
MR. DAVIDE: The approval of Tawi-Tawi with one seat.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes.
MR. ABUBAKAR: There is no question on that.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We move also for the approval of the apportionment and districting of Zamboanga del Norte, with the cities of Dapitan and Dipolog, with three seats as indicated in the ordinance.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) There Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We also move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of Zamboanga del Sur, with the City of Pagadian, into three districts, with the component municipalities as described in the ordinance.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We also move for the approval of the allocation of one district to Zamboanga City.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Basilan, rather, with one district, for Region IX. We move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We now proceed, Mr. Presiding Officer, to Region X. There are no other amendments for Region X. So I move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces with component cities and City of Cagayan de Oro, to wit: Agusan del Norte, with the City of Butuan, 2; Agusan del Sur, 2; Bukidnon, 3; Camiguin, 3; Misamis Occidental, with the Cities of Oroquieta, Ozamis and Tangub, 2; Misamis Oriental, with Gingoog City, 2; Cagayan de Oro City, 1; Surigao del Norte, with Surigao City, 2; the components of which districts for said provinces are indicated in the ordinance.
I so move for their approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting of Region X is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We now proceed to Region XI. There are no amendments to Region XI.
I move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces with component cities and a highly urbanized city comprised in Region XI, to wit: For Davao del Norte, with 3 districts; Davao Oriental, with 2 districts; Davao del Sur with 2 districts; Davao City with 3 districts; South Cotabato with General Santos City with 3 districts; Surigao del Sur with 2 districts with the component municipalities and city districts for Davao City as indicated in the ordinance.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting of Region XI is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: I understand Commissioner Uka has some proposals on Region XII.
MR. UKA: Mr. Presiding Officer, this morning I made a proposal in the case of Maguindanao Province in Region XII, with two representative districts. I now propose that the Municipality of Upi with a population of 43,250 which is listed under the second district be transferred to the first district with the result that the first district will have a total population of 340,299 and the second district, with a total population of 252,370. I am making this proposal for geographical, historical, traditional and cultural reasons. This arrangement will promote unity, peace and order in the region. Besides, if we look at the map which we have now in front, we will find that the Municipality of Upi is contiguous with its former mother municipality Dinaig, which is the municipality very, very close to Upi. I state these facts as gathered from the local leaders of the region. Originally, I propose the transfer of Talayan, Upi and South Upi to the first district but the committee says that there will be a big population imbalance if those three municipalities are transferred to the first district. So now, I am asking and pleading that only one municipality, Upi, be transferred to the first district for the reasons I have already stated. With this arrangement, aside from the reasons I had stated each district will comprise nine municipalities. That is well-balanced; the second district will also have nine municipalities and that is a balanced proposition. As I said, the historical, traditional and cultural reasons will still be preserved. So I am asking that the committee approve the proposal.
MR. DAVIDE: May we be clarified, Mr. Presiding Officer. He seeks the transfer of Upi, Talayan and South Upi to the First District?
MR. UKA: Yes, only Upi.
MR. DAVIDE: Only Upi?
MR. UKA: Yes. I opted only for just one since Talayan and South Upi will cause a big population imbalance, so I am only asking for one municipality. That will be well-balanced because the first district will have nine municipalities and the second district will also have nine. Since I cannot get the approval of the three, then I will be content with just one municipality.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, the committee accepts the proposed amendment so that the first district now will be composed of the City of Cotabato and the municipalities of Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Buldon, Barirat, Dinaig, Kabuntalan, Matanog and Upi.
The second district will be the municipalities of Pagalungan, Buluan, Sultan sa Barongis, Maganoy, Talayan, South Upi, Datu Piang, Daty Paglas and Ampatuan. Is that correct, Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. UKA: That is correct.
MR. DAVIDE: I so move for its approval, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. UKA: Thank you very much.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; redistricting of the Second District of Maguindanao is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: May I seek for the recognition of Commissioner Alonto who has some amendments for Lanao del Norte.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Alonto is recognized.
MR. ALONTO: Mr. Presiding Officer, for Lanao del Sur, it is mere transfer of one municipality.
MR. DAVIDE: So it is Lanao del Sur, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. ALONTO: Lanao del Sur first.
MR. DAVIDE: What municipality, Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. ALONTO: The Municipality of Masiu which appears now in the first district, but to be transferred to the second district.
That is the only amendment as far as Lanao del Sur is concerned.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee accepts, Mr. Presiding Officer, to transfer Masiu which is the last of the enumerated municipalities under the first district to the second district.
MR. ALONTO: Yes.
MR. DAVIDE: I so move for its approval.
MR. ALONTO: The first district will compose of the City of Marawi, Marantao, Piagapo, Saguiaran, Tagoloan, Kapai, Ditsaan-Ramain, Bubong, Buadiposo-Buntong, Bumbaran, Maguing, Wao, Mulundu, Taraka, Lumba-Bayabao, Tamparan and Poona Bayabao.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the distributing of the First District of Lanao del Sur is approved.
MR. ALONTO: Now, we will go to Lanao del Norte where we are trying to put a configuration where the two religious communities composing Lanao del Norte with Iligan City could be separated into two districts. So, for this purpose, we move to amend the first district to compose the following: Iligan City, Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tobod, and Baroy. These are municipalities all along the coast.
MR. DAVIDE: What about the second district?
MR. ALONTO: The second district will compose the following: Baloi, Pantar, Tagoloan, Paoona-Piagapo, Pantao-Ragat, Matungao, Tangkal, Munai, Nunungan, Magsaysay, Salvador, Kapatagan, Karomatan, Sapad and Lala.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee accepts, I move for Lanao del Norte, as enumerated by Commissioner Alonto.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendments to the districts of Lanao del Norte are approved.
MR. ALONTO: Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: North Cotabato, there are no amendments. Sultan Kudarat, there are no amendments. May I now move for the approval of the apportionment and districting of the provinces, with component cities, of Region XII, to wit: Lanao del Norte, with Iligan City, 2, with the components for the First and the Second Districts, as amended by Commissioner Alonto; for Lanao del Sur, with Marawi City, 2, as amended by Commissioner Alonto; Maguindanao, with Cotabato City, 2 districts, as amended by Commissioner Uka; North Cotabato, with 2; Sultan Kudarat, with 1.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting of Region XII is approved.
MR. RAMA: May I move for a suspension, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is suspended.
It was 5:56 p.m.
At 6:11 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is resumed.
MR. RAMA: May I ask that the committee chairman be recognized.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, may we go back to Region IX.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Please proceed.
MR. DAVIDE: There was a pending proposed amendment for redistricting Sulu. I understand that Commissioner Abubakar is withdrawing the proposed amendment.
So he is withdrawing with some mental reservation
In view of the withdrawal of that proposed amendment, we, therefore, move for the approval of Sulu with two districts, whose component units are enumerated under each district, under the ordinance for Region IX.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the districting of Sulu is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: We move for the whole of the apportionment and districting then of Region IX, as follows: Basilan, 1; Sulu, 2; Tawi-Tawi, 1; Zamboanga del Norte, with the Cities of Dapitan and Dipolog, 3; Zamboanga del Sur, with the City of Pagadian, 3; and Zamboanga City, 1.
I move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the apportionment and districting of Region IX is approved.
The Floor Leader is recognized.
MR. RAMA: May I ask for a reconsideration of the decision on Region VII, for the effect that since Busay had already been transferred to the first district, Guadalupe should likewise be transferred to the first district.
MR. MAAMBONG: Mr. Presiding Officer, actually I was the one who moved for the transfer of Busay from the second to the first district and I think that has been agreed upon.
Do I understand that Guadalupe should likewise be transferred to the first district?
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer, we would like to know the justification of the transfer of Guadalupe to the first district.
MR. RAMA: One of the reasons is that Busay had been transferred already. Therefore, Guadalupe could fit in the new configuration.
MR. DAVIDE: Would it comply with the standard of contiguity, adjacentness and compactness?
MR. RAMA: Definitely, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: And would there be no much change in the population level in the balancing of the population of the first and second districts?
MR. RAMA: There will be no change and the compactness is there.
MR. MAAMBONG: Although there has been no ruling yet in the committee, do we understand that if Guadalupe is transferred to the first district, it goes with the transfer of Busay which has already been approved? Is that what will happen Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. MAAMBONG: I see.
MR. DAVIDE: What will happen is that Guadalupe and Busay will be transferred from the Second District to the First District of Cebu City.
MR. MAAMBONG: I see. I just wanted to clarify what are the barangays supposed to be transferred.
MR. DAVIDE: Only two.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): What is the reaction of the committee?
MR. DAVIDE: May we request a suspension, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is suspended.
It was 6:16 p.m.
At 6:22 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is resumed.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, there is a pending motion for reconsideration of the redistricting with respect to the First District and Second District of Cebu City. We move for its reconsideration.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. RAMA: I move that Barrio Guadalupe which is adjacent to the first district be included in the first district and the reason for this is that the second district is a very large area and when we transfer Guadalupe to the first district, it would balance off and the difference in the population is very small. May I ask the committee's position on this motion.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): What does the committee say?
MS. AQUINO: According to the COMELEC report, the projected population for Guadalupe is 38,974.
That is, we will be transferring 38,974 from the second district to the first district after we have already transferred Busay.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Maambong is recognized.
MR. MAAMBONG: I have no population level here and earlier, I was even quoted by the honorable chairman that I was objecting to a move to transfer Guadalupe. But I just want to clarify for the record that perhaps it was somebody else who made that kind of objection. I would just like to indicate, however, that the proposal of the honorable Floor Leader, looking at the map, seems to be justifiable considering that the area where Guadalupe is supposed to be taken out is really very big. But I am not aware of the population or the implications of population so perhaps we can check the records; but in the meantime, I just want to indicate that I really did not make such objection. Perhaps, it was somebody else and I was mistaken to have made that objection.
MR. RAMA: Earlier, Mr. Presiding Officer, we have made some kind of a policy whereby if the area is very big, we can transfer with some allowances for the difference in population to balance off. So that is one of the considerations that would justify the transfer of Guadalupe to the first district.
MR. RAMA: May I ask for a suspension of session for two minutes.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is suspended.
It was 6:27 p.m.
At 6:36 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is resumed.
MR. RAMA: I withdraw my previous motion, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: While we are ready for the approval on Second Reading, the committee would make the following final amendments. It will be noted that in the resolution itself which will be appended to the new Constitution as an ordinance under Section 1, we stated at the end of the section, as follows:
Legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities and the Metropolitan Manila Area as shown in Annex A hereof.
It will not appear good if we will have to attach an annex A. The committee proposes that the apportionment itself must immediately follow Section 1. Such that the last two sentences will read as follows:
Legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities and the Metropolitan Manila Area AS FOLLOWS:
And then, the enumeration starting from Region I will immediately follow.
So, we ask for the deletion of the phrase "as shown in Annex A hereof" in Section 1 of Resolution No. 551 and in lieu thereof "AS FOLLOWS" should be inserted.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there a colon (:) after that?
MR. DAVIDE: Yes. Then the enumeration immediately of the different regions, from Regions I to XII including the Metropolitan Manila Area as what we have discussed, and the component cities and/or municipalities or districts under each particular district as so enumerated.
MR. OPLE: I second the motion, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
MR. DAVIDE: Our second proposal is that attached to the ordinance which we submitted is the summary consisting of four pages with number of seats by region and the summary; we move that this should not be included in the ordinance.
MR. OPLE: It should be excluded.
MR. DAVIDE: It should be excluded because this was only to guide the Commission.
MR. OPLE: I second the motion, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. MAAMBONG: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Maambong is recognized.
MR. MAAMBONG: Are we still on Resolution No. 551? In Section 3, I think we can now insert the article number which is Roman numeral six (VI), actually on the Legislative Department; is that all right, Mr. Presiding Officer?
MR. DAVIDE: The committee accepts, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.
MR. OPLE: Mr. Presiding Officer, just for clarification. Having been determined that this is an ordinance to the Constitution, it is technically necessary to assign an article to it?
MR. DAVIDE: There is no need, but the article referred to by Commissioner Maambong is on Section-3 of the resolution itself which reads, "and according to the standards set forth in Section 5 of Article _____ of the Constitution," so we just fill it up.
Mr. OPLE: , it is a link to the Article on the Legislative.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
Mr. OPLE: Thank you.
MR. MAAMBONG: It is actually a reference to the authority of the Commission under the approved article of the Constitution.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes.
MR. MAAMBONG: Earlier, I called the attention of the committee regarding the configuration of Bukidnon in Region X. I notice that there seems to be a slight or not so slight inequality in the distribution of towns. In the first district. for example, there are nine towns in the second district, there are five towns; and in the third district, there are eight towns. Also in the original population level of the first, second and third districts, there seems to be inequality. I wonder if the Committee has already gone over my suggestion earlier on and may we know the comment of the committee. I am intending to propose, if the committee will allow, that this town of Impasugong in the first district be transferred to the second district so that the first, second and third districts would have a configuration of eight, six; eight number of towns and the population level will also balance off. I went over the map and they are very contiguous and adjacent to each other. I wonder if the committee has gone over my recommendation before the start of this deliberation.
MR. DAVIDE: The committee accepts the transfer of Impasugong to the second district for Bukidnon.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the transfer of Impasugong is approved.
MR. MAAMBONG: Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: Finally, before we approve the entire resolution, upon suggestion of Atty. Orquiola there should be the capitalized word “ORDINANCE” at the center before Section 1.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): All in caps?
MR. DAVIDE: It is practically the heading already all in capital letters.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Ople is recognized.
MR. OPLE: Yes, does that mean that this caption under Resolution No. 551 is also deleted? Does the capitalized word "ORDINANCE" take the place of this caption "A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN ORDINANCE . . ."?
MR. DAVIDE: That is correct, Mr. Presiding Officer. In the final format, Resolution No. 551 as introduced by the Committee on the Legislative should not appear anymore.
MR. OPLE: And the caption is eliminated, since "ORDINANCE" will be sufficient.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. OPLE: Thank you.
MR. DAVIDE: In other words. the "ORDINANCE" as I mentioned earlier, instead of immediately above Section 1 should be above "it resolved."
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): I think "resolved" should be deleted.
MR. DAVIDE: "Resolved" shall also be deleted.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes, we will only have "ORDINANCE" after which will follow Section 1, et cetera.
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the amendment is approved.
Are we ready for the Second Reading?
MR. DAVIDE: Final perfecting amendment. So, it will now appear as an appendix to the new Constitution.
It should read: "ORDINANCE APPORTIONING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN PROVINCES AND CITIES AND THE METROPOLITAN MANILA AREA. Then Section 1.
I so move for its approval.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none, the amendment is approved.
(Apportionment ordinance for the House of Representatives)
MR. DAVIDE: I think there is nothing more for the ordinance; I move for its approval on Second Reading.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Will the Secretary-General read the title?
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: Resolution No. 551, entitled:
RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN ORDINANCE TO BE APPENDED TO THE NEW CONSTITUTION APPORTIONING THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS IN PROVINCES AND CITIES AND THE METROPOLITAN MANILA AREA.
MR. OPLE: Should it be the "Members of" apportioning the seats?
MR. DAVIDE: Apportioning the seats.
MR. OPLE: Apportioning the seats in the House of Representatives, yes.
MR. SUAREZ: May we just clear up one point. What is the total number of regular seats now?
MR. DAVIDE: It is 200 seats, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. SUAREZ: So it will be a full complement of 250?
MR. DAVIDE: A full complement of the maximum provided for.
MR. SUAREZ: Thank you.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection?
MR. MAAMBONG: Just one point: With that statement of the honorable chairman that there are 200 seats, how many will be for the sectoral then?
MR. DAVIDE: The party list system will have 50 seats and one-half of the party list allocation will be sectoral, for three consecutive terms.
MR. MAAMBONG: So, as provided for in the Constitution itself?
MR. DAVIDE: Yes.
MR. MAAMBONG: Thank you.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Resolution No. 551 on Second Reading is approved.
APPROVAL OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. 551 ON THIRD READING (Apportionment ordinance for the House of Representatives)
MR. DAVIDE: Under the suspended Rules, I move that we approve this Ordinance on Third Reading, as amended.
MR. OPLE: I second the motion, Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved. Proposed Resolution No. 551, as amended, is approved on Third Reading.
MR. DAVIDE: I would like to state for the Record that since we are working under suspended Rules, there is no need for nominal voting on Third Reading.
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer, I move for adjournment until tomorrow at nine o'clock. The reason we are going to be here tomorrow is to check on the final draft, as printed by the printing press.
MR. DAVIDE: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Commissioner Davide is recognized.
MR. DAVIDE: The numbering of the district should be like this: Benguet, 1, then enumerate the municipalities therein. I stand corrected. For the style, I propose that it should be subject to style to be rewritten by the Style Committee. Benguet, (1), then Baguio City, (1) but that should be indented.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): It is noted.
MR. DAVIDE: Follow also as an instruction to the Style Committee, after completing the enumeration for every province, there should be a period (.), not a semi-colon(;).
MR. RAMA: Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. MAAMBONG: Mr. Presiding Officer.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes, Commissioner Maambong is recognized.
MR. MAAMBONG: This is a matter of form but I just want to make it of record that in the sequencing of the Article on Commission on Elections, we have reinstated an original section which was inserted as a subsection and I just want it to be on record that in the Article on Commission on Elections, we have reinstated 11 sections instead of originally 10.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): Yes.
MR. RAMA: I move for the adjournment until Wednesday at eight-thirty in the morning.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Romulo): The session is adjourned until Wednesday at eight-thirty in the morning.
It was 6:53 p.m.
* Appeared after the roll call.
* See Appendix.