Three laws seeking to create additional legislative districts in Caloocan City and Bulacan as well as dividing Maguindanao into two provinces have been signed by President Duterte.
Republic Act No. 11545, signed by the President on May 23, splits the first legislative district of Caloocan City into two districts.
"The First Legislative District of the City of Caloocan is hereby reapportioned into two legislative districts to be designated as the First Legislative District and the Third Legislative District to take effect in the 2022 national and local elections," the law read. The second district of Caloocan City has been retained.
The President also signed Republic Act No. 11546 reapportioning the province of Bulacan into six legislative districts, from the current four. The creation of the new districts will take effect in next year's elections.
Under RA 11546 signed on May 26, the first district of Bulacan is composed of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Pulilan, Bulakan and Malolos City.
The second district includes Baliuag, Bustos, and Plaridel while the third district will comprise of San Ildefonso, San Miguel, San Rafael and Doña Remedios Trinidad.
Obando, Marilao and City of Meycauayan will form Bulacan's fourth district while Guiguinto, Balagtas, Pandi and Bocaue will become the fifth district. The six district of Bulacan will consist of Sta. Maria, Norzagaray and Angat.
"All the incumbent Representatives of the Province of Bulacan shall continue to hold office until the expiration of their terms of office," the law read.
Meantime, the President has also signed the law creating the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
A ceremonial signing of the Maguindanao law was held Wednesday, according to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
Under RA 11550, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of 12 municipalities namely Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay.
The 24 towns in Maguindanao del Sur are the following: Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi.
The capital towns and seats of govenrment of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur will be the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Buluan, respectively.