A separate congressional district is mulled for this premier industrial city in the south. The measure has already passed first reading at the House of Representatives late last year and is now subjected to a series of public hearings here and in seven towns of Lanao del Norte.

Authored by Lanao del Norte Representative Vicente Belmonte, House Bill 3164 seeks to carve this city out of the first congressional district and stand as an independent congressional district. Currently, the first district is composed of Iligan City and the coastal towns of Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod and Baroy. Belmonte said slicing away Iligan as an independent congressional district can help fast-track development in the communities of both the city and the seven towns. He particularly cited the availability of a new Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel that can be solely focused on Iligan communities while the PDAF for the first district will now be shared by lesser number of communities.

Belmonte's bill provides that after slicing away Iligan, the seven remaining towns shall be the new composition of the first district.
Created on June 16, 1950 with 44 barangays, Iligan was declared a highly urbanized city in 1983. The National Statistics Office projects the city's 2007 population of 285,061 to grow to 342,087 by 2010.
The 1987 Constitution provides that for a city to become a legislative district, it must have a population of at least 250,000.
As host of Mindanao's principal power generation, Iligan's economy is largely underpinned by the business activities of its industrial locators, foremost of which is the former National Steel Corporation (NSC) now Global Steel.

Although it has suffered from the industrial fallout almost a decade ago, especially when the then NSC closed down, the local economy has recovered. It's businesses also improved. (Ryan D. Rosauro)

SOURCE

In Political Science class, we discussed the possibility of making Iligan a congressional district. It will be very beneficial in the development of Iligan City because of the allocation of the Countryside Development Fund. Most of the CDF for Lanao del Norte is allocated to infrastructures in the rural areas, with projects within the city often being sidelined.

On a contrasting note, those in the coastal towns would be at a weak point since Iligan has been the only place that is vocal against government discrepancies and corruption. Iligan is the voice of Lanao del Norte, and without it corruption in the rural areas may proliferate more.

Compared to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan is a small place. But with development, it might be able to compete with Cagayan when it comes to tourism. It might also be able to attract investors into setting up businesses here. Products are very limited here, and I often find myself traveling an hour and a half to go to Cagayan just to purchase items. More businesses would also mean more jobs for the people here.

The problem with most Iliganons is that they have a voice, but they usually don't act on it. Sigh. Have to collect my thoughts. Will write more about it next time.

Friday, February 15, 2008
Categories: news. Author: Unknown