Zamboanga City - - Initial consultations on the proposed creation of a third district for Zamboanga City have yielded varied reactions from the public.

As this developed, District I Congresswoman Beng Climaco cited the need for massive information campaign and consultations on the third district issue stressing that it will enlighten the residents as well as ensure participatory governance.

“We have to know the issue, study the issue and from that make a decision because it will affect the people and the entire Zamboanga City”, Climaco, who is spearheading the consultations on the 3rd district, stressed.

Some participants to the consultation opined that the creation of the new district is still premature while the others think that it is now the right time to add a new district. Others on the other hand think that representations in Congress would depend on the performance of the congressmen in such that the number of projects to be infused in the city does not depend on the number of representatives but on how the said congressmen will work to bring in projects and funding.

Climaco formally launched consultations on the 3rd district issue Friday, Nov. 7, with college students and representatives from the multi-sectoral groups in attendance. The first consultation was held at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) social hall 1pm while the second was held at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University at 5 pm of the same day.

Climaco distributed a primer that answers frequently asked questions on the third district issue as well as how a bill becomes a law in the House of Representatives, the criteria for the creation of a new district and the composition of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and many more.

“The primary issue is: is Zamboanga ready for a third district, are the people in favour of the creation of a new district and if yes, how do will be the delineation”, the lady solon said.

Climaco hoped that people will be one on the issue and that the people will let their voices be heard in the series of consultations that will be held.

The lady solon shrugged off calls that she file the bill first before conducting the consultations stressing that she would not want the third district issue turn out like the aborted Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) where the pact was prepared without consulting the people.

“I want the bill to truly reflect the sentiments of the people”, she said. “As a legislator it would be best if we get the pulse of the people and based on the results of the consultation we will come up with a bill. We want public sector ownership in this proposed bill”.

“I am doing my very best as the people’s representative in Congress and I am trying my best to do things the proper way” she added.

Meanwhile, the consultation on the third district issue was done alongside with the proposed charter change.

Climaco, who is a member of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, assured that the issue on the chacha is being presented in such a way that the people will not be confused with the discussion on the third district. “I made sure that it was a separate issue”.

Majority of the participants to the consultation said that the proposed charter change is still premature. (Ryan Sta. Teresa)