By Dominique Gabriel G. Banaga

Two separate bills in the Lower House proposing the splitting of Bacolod into two legislative districts have failed to get the needed endorsements from city officials, months after these have been filed by two solons.
One of them, Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano, is puzzled.
“I cannot understand why. We expect to hasten this move especially that the Redistricting of Bacolod City was the campaign promise of the city officials and I cannot see any reason for the delay especially that the city officials now belong to one political party,” Paduano said.
The endorsements from Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the Sangguniang Panlungsod have yet to be given, even though Paduano and Gasataya have long filed these measures shortly after assuming their positions.
Paduano said a Technical Working Group had already been formed to reconcile the two bills, and that it was already deliberated upon last March before the Lenten break of Congress.
“We cannot continue the deliberation unless the city officials can submit the endorsements,” Paduano clarified.
He also said it is unfortunate that the proposed redistricting of Bacolod City was overtaken by the redistricting of Iloilo, which had already passed the Committee on Local Governments because it already got the required endorsements from the Iloilo City officials, business sector and other stakeholders.
Bacolod is very qualified for redistricting and we were first to file the move but unfortunately we were left behind, he said.
The proposed Redistricting of Bacolod was initiated during the term of former Bacolod Lone District Rep. Anthony Golez.

POLL POSTPONEMENT
Meanwhile, Paduano also revealed his doubts on the postponement of the Barangay elections in October this year.
He said, during the resumption of congress session on May 2, the proposed postponement of the Barangay election was not certified as an urgent bill by the president.
Rep. Robert Ace Barbers filed House Bill 5359 seeking to postpone the 2017 barangay elections and the president to appoint new sets of barangay officials all over the country.
“I believe the barangay elections would push through in October,” Paduano said, though he revealed the postponement could be certified urgent in July when they resume session again after the June break./WDJ