By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran clarified yesterday that the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is not sitting down on the proposed Redistricting of Bacolod City.
Instead the SP presiding officer said he would “take that up during our caucus before the regular session.”
Familiaran made the statement after Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya and Abang Lingkod Party list Rep. Stephen Paduano said they are waiting for the City’s endorsement of the bill to split Bacolod City into two legislative districts.
Both solons added they had already filed the measures but these would not prosper during congressional deliberations without endorsements from the City Mayor and the SP.
Familiaran said he was only aware of the creation of a committee that would set the boundaries of the proposed districts. While at the SP, the matter was with the Committee on Laws and Ordinances chaired by Councilor Caesar Distrito.
The Vice Mayor, for his part, backed the redistricting move, saying Bacolod City is qualified because of its growing population.
However, he said, because of the numerous daily transactions going on at the Government Center everyday and with the addition of four city Councilors once the Redistricting proposal is realized, the City Government needs to construct another legislative building because the Government Center is already crowded.
“Maybe with the help of the two congressional funds, that legislative building could be constructed once Bacolod City is divided into two districts,” Familiaran pointed out.
Moves to divide Bacolod into two congressional districts started in 2013./WDJ