President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday “re-enacted” the signing into law of Republic Act 9726 separating the City of Lapu-Lapu from 6th Legislative District of the Province of Cebu to constitute the Lone District of Lapu-Lapu City.
The law was passed by the House of Representatives on October 2, 2008 and by the Senate on September 28.
President Arroyo signed into law RA 9726 last October 22 at Malacañang without Cebuano congressmen and city officials of Lapu-Lapu.
Before her visit in Lapu-Lapu City for less than an hour, President Arroyo first went to the town of Loboc, Bohol and unveiled the Loboc Fish Landing and Multi-Purpose Docking Port worth P4.7 million.
President Arroyo also presided a Cabinet meeting at the Loboc Children’s Palace before making a side trip to the Mactan Cebu International Airport yesterday afternoon.
President Arroyo was accompanied by Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro, Jr., Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former DENR Secretary Heherson Alvarez.
The reenactment of the signing of the law (Republic Act 9726) was witnessed by Cebuano congressmen Raul del Mar, Antonio Cuenco, Eduardo Gullas, Pablo John Garcia, Benhur Salimbangon, Ramon “Red” Durano VI and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo O. Radaza and his wife, Paz, led city and barangay officials in witnessing the reenactment yesterday.
Sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, who authored the bill at the House of Representatives, said that the people of Lapu-Lapu will benefit now that it has become a lone congressional district.
Mayor Radaza considered it a “milestone in the city’s journey to progress” and “an opportunity to be heard in national legislature.”
City officials said the swift passage of the law shows the administration recognizes Lapu-Lapu’s role in supporting the national economy.
Section 1 of RA 9726 states that separation from the 6th District of “the lone legislative district of the City of Lapu-Lapu shall commence in the next national election after the effectivity of this Act.”
“The incumbent representative of the sixth legislative district of the Provinces of Cebu shall continue to represent the said district until the representative of the lone district of the City of Lapu-Lapu shall have been elected and qualified,” said Section 11 of the law.
Radaza expressed his thanks for the realization of the dream of the people of Lapu-Lapu City.
The city of Lapu-Lapu has a population of around 300,000 and was declared a highly urbanized city last 2007.
With the declaration of Lapu-Lapu City as a lone congressional district, the 6th District is now composed only of Mandaue City and the towns of Consolacion and Cordova.
The charter of Lapu-Lapu City, after its declaration as highly urbanized city, prohibits the residents in electing candidates for governor, vice governor and members of the provincial board.
Rep. Soon-Ruiz said the people of Lapu-Lapu City will elect their first congressman in the May 2010 elections.
Rep. Soon-Ruiz, whose term will end next year, said the people of Lapu-Lapu will benefit from the new law because the new congressman, who would represent the district will utilize the funds for the district alone.
Every congressman of a regular district will receive P70 million annual priority development assistance fund (PDAF) aside from the insertions for the budget to finance the implementation of the different projects in the district. – /NLQ (FREEMAN NEWS)
