The push to split Antique into two congressional districts, as floated by Governor Rhodora Cadiao, is being framed as a move to improve government services and representation.
Yet, this initiative should not be taken at face value, as political ambitions appear to overshadow the actual needs of the province.
Antique’s population surpasses 650,000, seemingly meeting the legal threshold for the creation of another district. Cadiao argues that having two congressional districts would enable more effective representation, especially as a single representative would no longer be burdened with overseeing the needs of such a large number of constituents. However, this reasoning sidesteps more urgent and fundamental concerns.
The poverty incidence in Antique remains in double digits, despite recent improvements.
According to the Based on the preliminary results of the First Visit of the 2023 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the poverty incidence among families decreased from 21.9 percent in 2021 to 17.8 percent in 2023.
While this 4.1 percent reduction is a step forward, it still indicates that nearly one in five families in Antique struggles to meet basic needs.
The poverty incidence among individuals also saw a similar decline, from 26.8 percent to 22.7 percent. This means that almost a quarter of Antiqueños remain below the poverty threshold.
The province’s challenges, particularly its poverty problem, require comprehensive solutions that address systemic issues such as employment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Dividing Antique into two districts, however, is unlikely to tackle these pressing concerns. Instead, it risks becoming another political maneuver that merely shifts power dynamics, without providing any tangible benefits to the people.
Political promises to split the province date back to former Congresswoman Loren Legarda and her brother, current Congressman Agapito “AA” Legarda. Despite their multiple terms in office, the promise remains unfulfilled.
Now, Governor Cadiao, eyeing the congressional seat in 2025, is resurrecting this idea. The timing raises questions about the true motivation behind the move—whether it is driven by a genuine desire to serve the people or simply to fulfill political ambitions and campaign promises.
Rather than creating new political divisions, Antique’s leaders should focus on effective governance and addressing the root causes of poverty.
The PSA reports show that a family of five in Antique needs at least ₱13,523 per month to meet basic needs, yet many fall short of this threshold.
Crafting policies that generate employment, improve access to education, and provide better healthcare would serve the province far better than merely adding another congressional seat.
At the end of the day, the success of Antique’s development will not be determined by how many districts it has, but by how well its leaders use the resources available to uplift the lives of its people.
The province needs less politics and more progress.
