Legislative districts of Dinagat Islands explained

The legislative districts of Dinagat Islands are the representations of the province of Dinagat Islands in the Congress of the Philippines. The province is currently represented in the lower house of the Congress through its lone congressional district.

History

Prior to gaining separate representation, areas now under the jurisdiction of Dinagat Islands were initially represented under the former province of Surigao (1907–1961), Region X (1978–1984) and Surigao del Norte (1961–1972; 1984–2007).

The passage of Republic Act No. 9355 on October 2, 2006 and its subsequent ratification by plebiscite three months later separated seven municipalities from Surigao del Norte's first congressional district to form the new province of Dinagat Islands.[1] The new province first elected its separate representative in the 2007 elections.

Despite Dinagat Islands being nullified as a province by the Supreme Court of the Philippines on February 11, 2010[2] the decision was not yet rendered final and executory before the May 10, 2010 elections; therefore the Commission on Elections still organized the elections for Dinagat Islands' congressional representative along with its provincial officials.[3] Even after the Supreme Court rendered its original decision final and executory on May 18, 2010, the representatives of the reconfigured first district of Surigao del Norte and the lone district of Dinagat Islands continued to represent their own constituencies.[4]

After the Supreme Court reversed its previous ruling on April 12, 2011, and subsequently upheld with finality the constitutionality of R.A. 9355 and the creation of Dinagat Islands as a province through an Entry of Judgment on October 24, 2012,[5] the separation of Dinagat Islands from Surigao del Norte's first district became permanent.

Lone District

PeriodRepresentative[7]
14th Congress
2007 - 2010
Glenda B. Ecleo
15th Congress
2010 - 2013
Ruben B. Ecleo, Jr.
vacant
16th Congress
2013 - 2016
Arlene J. Bag-ao
17th Congress
2016 - 2019
18th Congress
2019 - 2022
Alan Uno B. Ecleo
19th Congress
2022 - 2025
Notes

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Republic Act No. 9355 - An Act Creating the Province of Dinagat Islands. October 2, 2006. August 9, 2016. Congress of the Philippines. Senate of the Philippines.
  2. News: Rempillo. Jay B.. SC Voids Creation of the Province of Dinagat Islands. December 19, 2015. Supreme Court of the Philippines. February 11, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716102903/http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/news/courtnews%20flash/2010/02/02111002.php. July 16, 2011.
  3. Web site: Commission on Elections. COMELEC Resolution No. 8790. https://web.archive.org/web/20100326191935/https://comelec.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/com_res_8790.pdf. March 26, 2010. March 9, 2010. August 9, 2016. dead.
  4. Web site: G.R. No. 180050, Promulgated: April 12, 2011. April 12, 2011. Supreme Court of the Philippines. Antonio Eduardo B.. Nachura. August 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160819044441/http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/april2011/180050.htm. August 19, 2016. dead.
  5. Web site: IRA Shares for LGUs Jump by 37.5% in 2013. January 9, 2013. Office of the President of the Philippines. Department of Budget and Management. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. August 9, 2016.
  6. Web site: Population of Population of Legislative Districts by Region, Province, and Selected Highly Urbanized/Component City: 2015. Philippine Statistics Authority. 2015. November 19, 2017.
  7. Web site: Roster of Philippine Legislators. Republic of the Philippines, House of Representatives. February 7, 2017. Congressional Library Bureau.