President Rodrigo Duterte has signed three new laws, the first is seeking to divide Maguindanao, and creating additional legislative districts in Caloocan City and Bulacan, second and third respectively, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that under the new law, the two new provinces of Maguindanao will be called Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
The Palace has yet to release an official copy of the new law.
Meanwhile, Republic Act No. 11545, signed by the President on May 23, splits the first legislative district of Caloocan City into two districts.
“The First Legislative District of the City of Caloocan is hereby reapportioned into two legislative districts to be designated as the First Legislative District and the Third Legislative District to take effect in the 2022 national and local elections,” the law read. The second district of Caloocan City has been retained.
The President also signed Republic Act No. 11546 reapportioning the province of Bulacan into six legislative districts, from the current four. The creation of the new districts will take effect in next year’s elections.
Under RA 11546 signed on May 26, the first district of Bulacan is composed of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Pulilan, Bulakan and Malolos City.
The second district includes Baliuag, Bustos, and Plaridel while the third district will comprise San Ildefonso, San Miguel, San Rafael and Doña Remedios Trinidad.
Obando, Marilao and City of Meycauayan will form Bulacan’s fourth district while Guiguinto, Balagtas, Pandi and Bocaue will become the fifth district. The six district of Bulacan will consist of Sta. Maria, Norzagaray and Angat.
“All the incumbent Representatives of the Province of Bulacan shall continue to hold office until the expiration of their terms of office,” the law says.