Officials of 2nd biggest barangay want 3rd district

Even before the scheduled consultations of Congressman Erbie Fabian begin sometime during the campaign period next year, the barangay officials of the 2nd biggest barangay in Zamboanga City in terms of population, already made an official stand with regards to the creation of a 3rd Congressional District in the city.
The barangay officials of Tetuan, with a population of a little over 29,055 as of the 2007 census, declared through Resolution no. 07-04, their full support for Congresswoman Beng Climaco’s House bill no. 6259 calling for the creation of a 3rd legislative district in Zamboanga City.

During the regular session of the Tetuan Sangguniang Barangay on July 4, this year, Barangay kagawad Ranulfo Despalo, Jr. presented to the barangay council the need for them to come up with an official stand on the creation of the 3rd district.According to the resolution, the decision of the barangay officials is based purely on their own personal opinion without prior consultations. The barangay officials said that an additional representation in the house of representatives through the creation of the 3rd district will redound to a better administration and governance leading to a more effective and efficacious delivery of the basic services to the people.The resolution was approved unanimously by all barangay officials present in the regular session. Tetuan is under District two.It is to be recalled that 33 out of 37 barangay chairmen in District one initially came up with a resolution supporting the creation of the 3rd district. However, after attending a meeting called by Mayor Celso Lobregat, a known oppositionist to the creation of the 3rd district, 10 of the 33 chairmen withdrew their support to the House bill of Congresswoman Climaco. 23 district one barangay chairmen defended their decision and stood strong in supporting Climacoâ??s bill in Congress.Congressman Erbie Fabian on the other hand is still waiting for the campaign period for the 2010 elections before starting his consultations with the 61 barangays under district 2. He said he wants to make the creation of the 3rd district an election issue.Vice Mayor Mannix Dalipe for his part expressed full support for the creation of the 3rd district saying the city will be able to progress faster with three representatives in congress and P210 million worth of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) every year.The city council already passed several resolutions calling and supporting moves to create a 3rd congressional district for the city. Based on the council resolutions and after thorough consultations, Congresswoman Beng Climaco crossed party lines and boldly filed the necessary bill in congress even with the known opposition of Mayor Lobregat and without the concurrence of Congressman Fabian.

Via Zamboanga Today