Umali eyes for 3 more congressional districts in Nueva Ecija, seeks dialogue with solons

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, May 27, 2011-Governor Aurelio Umali expressed desire to have at least three more congressional districts in the province, saying that he is eyeing a dialogue with all the four congressmen to discuss re-districting to pave the way for additional representation in Congress.

“The creation of additional congressional districts is long overdue and there is a need to sit down with the incumbent congressmen on how each existing congressional district will be reconfigured for the envisioned new congressional districts,” Umali said, adding that we have to rationalize redistricting and that’s why we have to sit down with our congressmen to arrive at a consensus.

“We initially discussed it with fourth district Rep. Rodolfo Antonino who said his district alone may be divided into two separate congressional districts,” Umali furthered.

Records showed that Cong. Antonino’s district covers Gapan City and the municipalities of Cabiao, Gen. Tinio, Jaen, Penaranda, San Antonio, San Isidro and San Leonardo.

“Under Antonino’s proposal, Gapan City and the municipalities of Gen. Tinio, Penaranda and San Isidro alone may comprise a district while another district may be carved out from the rest of the towns,” Umali said.

He said that if Cabanatuan City – the province’s trade and educational center – is to become a lone congressional district, the make-up of the entire province will also have to be considered.

Cabanatuan City is lumped together with Palayan City and the municipalities of  Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, Gen. Natividad and Sta. Rosa comprising the third congressional district.

The district, which is home to Umali, is the province’s largest congressional district and whose sitting representative is the governor’s wife, Congresswoman Czarina Umali. The governor’s younger brother Emmanuel Antonio is also the incumbent board member in the district after emerging as the top vote-getter in the elections for members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The law stated that a congressional district may be created over an area with a population of 250,000. Nueva Ecija has an estimated population of 1.6 million, making it eligible to have at least two additional congressional districts.

The addition of more congressional districts is considered a boon to the province because each congressman receives P70 million in annual priority development assistance fund otherwise known as pork barrel allocations. 

The other incumbent lawmakers here are Representatives Josie Manuel-Joson and Joseph Gilbert Violago of the first and second districts.  (Jason de Asis)