BALANGA CITY — Bataan Second District Representative Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III recently filed the House Bill 0199 (HB No. 0199) that seeks the creation of an additional district for the province of Bataan.
Garcia said that after three decades since the 1987 Constitution, the population of Bataan has grown (706,650 as of 2015 according to PSA) and a remarkable growth in the economy has also been recorded.
At present Bataan has only two congressional districts. The First District being represented by Congresswoman Geraldine B. Roman, is composed of the municipalities of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay and Morong while the Second District is composed of the City of Balanga, Pilar, Orion, Limay, Bagac and Mariveles.
HB 0199 seeks for the reapportion of Bataan into three legislative districts namely the First Legislative District which will be composed of the towns of Hermosa, Dinalupihan, Orani and Morong; Second District comprises the City of Balanga, Pilar, Samal, Abucay and Bagac.
Under Rep. Garcias proposal, a third congressional district will be created comprising the industrial towns of Mariveles, Limay and Orion which will have a combined projected population of 251,609.
Mariveles hosts the Freeport Area of Bataan which, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board NSCB, has posted the highest growth rate among the country’s Investment Promotion Agencies which include SBMA, Clark Freeport, PEZA, CEZA and BOI.
Limay, now headed by charismatic Mayor Nelson C. David, is home of the countrys largest oil refinery, the Petron Bataan Refinery, and the once exclusive Petrochemical Industrial Zone which is now open for diverse industries and businesses.
Orion, as reported by incumbent Mayor Antonio Raymundo Jr., currently benefits from a spill-over of investors and locators from the adjoining town of Limay.
Also, Mariveles and Orion are now closer to Metro Manila since the emergence of a fast, efficient and effective 1Bataan Integrated Transport System (ferry and bus system combined), which cuts the travel time to Mega Manila into less than two hours via Manila Bay.
“Aside from the population factor, the three Legislative Districts propose to comprise the Province of Bataan share common and distinct interests which need to be encourage d and promoted through separate representations in the legislature,” Cong. Garcia said.