Treñas to file city redistricting bill
Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas will file the redistricting bill in Congress to divide the city into two congressional districts, a report of the Philippine News Agency said.
Treñas said he has pledged to turn Iloilo into two congressional districts with two congressmen for the city to have more access to priority development assistance funds for projects.
The bill also calls for eight city councilors for each congressional district.
“If other smaller cities in the country have two congressional districts, why not Iloilo City. Besides, we have nothing to lose but only to gain if we have two congressional districts,” Treñas said.
The bill also seeks to divide the seven city districts with the Iloilo River as the directional divider. The city districts of Jaro, La Paz, Lapuz and Mandurriao will be included in as the First District while the districts of Arevalo, Molo and the city proper will compose the Second District.
Meanwhile, Treñas is also finding ways to fund infrastructure projects in the city, the PNA also reported.
He said a congressman is given P70 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund a year and he will look for other possible funding sources for these projects to materialize during his term.
High-impact projects that need funding are the widening of road from Montinola Bridge in Jaro district to Leganes, Iloilo from two to four lanes; replacement of Buntatala Bridge from two to four lanes; and additional construction of two lane Buhang Bridge, all costing P281 million.
Another project is the Iloilo circumferential road costing P1.02 billion that will include a new road from Jaro to the municipalities of Pavia and Oton, then Arevalo district by passing through the giant flood control project.
The public works department is also asking from Treñas an additional P29.50 million to complete the construction of Ticud Bridge in La Paz district on top of the P50 million which started the bridge construction.
Another road artery will be constructed from the Jalandoni Bridge passing Nabitasan in La Paz district going to the diversion road, including one bridge project all amounting to P173.60 million.
