By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento is proposing to create a new province to be named as Northwestern Samar.
He filed House Bill 8824 seeking the creation of a new province from the present province of Samar to be known as the province of Northwestern Samar.
Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento (Congress/ Manila Bulletin)
Under the bill, the new province shall consist of Calbayog City, and the muncipalities of Almagro, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Santa Margarita, Sto. Niño, Tagapul-an, and Tarangnan.
“The creation of the Northwestern Samar will not reduce the population, land area and income of the mother province to less than the minimum requirements prescribed by the Local Government Code, considering that the remaining population of the mother province is still 448, 161 inhabitants, while the land area is 3,778.89 square kilometres,” Sarmiento said in filing the proposed "Charter of the Province of Northwestern Samar.”
He said the proposed creation of the province of Northwestern Samar will not affect the finances of the present provincial government.
"Instead, it shall pave the way for a more manageable cluster of LGUs which include Calbayog City and the nine municipalities of Almagro, Gander, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Santa Margarita, Sto. Niño, Tagapulan, and Tarangnan,” he said.
He noted that the bill was filed in the past Congresses, but due to lack of material time, it was not approved by the House of Representatives.
“The first district of the province of Samar is ready to become another province to attain political and fiscal autonomy,” Sarmiento said.
Under the bill, the present second district of Samar consisting of the municipalities of Basey, Calbiga, Catbalogan City, Daram, Hinabangan, San Jose de Buan, Jiabong, Marabut, Motiong, PInabacdao, San Sebastian, Sta. Rita, Talalora, VIllareal, Wright and Zumarraga will now comprise the province of Samar.
HB 8824 provides that the capital city and seat of government of the province of Northwestern Samar shall be Calbayog City.
The province of Northwestern Samar shall constitute one, separate legislative district to commence in the next national election after the proposed Act becomes effective.