Cebu's congressional districts: unequal divisions

I thought that Cebu's seven congressional districts prior to the 1987 Constitution were more equitable and reasonable geographic divisions, but life is never equal and politicians tend to exacerbate inequality, either by design or by incompetence, lack of foresight, lack of savvy, or simple indifference and ineptitude.

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez

In Cebu, there are conscientious citizens who care. In terms of areas, population and economic development, we can easily conclude inequality in the way the seven congressional; districts comprising the province of Cebu have been subdivided. I shall reserve comments on the four independent districts comprising two in Cebu City and one each for Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities. Since there are unequal divisions, there's necessarily unequal representation. But our politicians seem to be mindful only of the next election.

One very glaring discrepancy is that the 3rd District which has a combined area of 1,159.34 square kilometers, is the biggest in Cebu, while the 6th District covering only Cordova and Consolacion has a territory of only 54.18 sq.km. The two districts are represented by two members of Congress receiving equal salaries, perks, and probably allocable and non-allocable budget insertions and pork barrels. No political leader in Cebu has raised this territorial incongruity. But we need to care.