Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 6398)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 6398 is to separate the Subprovince of Siquijor from the Province of Oriental Negros and to establish Siquijor as an independent province.
This Act took effect upon its approval on September 17, 1971.
The Municipality of Larena is declared as the temporary capital of the new Province of Siquijor.
The new province shall acquire corporate existence following a plebiscite that coincides with the national or local elections immediately after the approval of the Act, where a majority of votes cast in the Subprovince of Siquijor favor the separation.
The permanent capital is decided by the registered electors of Siquijor in the plebiscite by voting for one of the six municipalities, with the municipality that gets the highest votes being proclaimed as the capital by the President.
The governor, vice-governor, and members of the provincial board of Siquijor elected in the general elections of 1971 automatically become the provincial officials of the new Province of Siquijor.
The provisions of the Administrative Code and other applicable laws for a regularly organized province apply to the government and operation of the new Province of Siquijor, including the election, appointment, and remuneration of its officers.
The first Member of the House of Representatives for Siquijor shall be elected in the next presidential elections after the creation of the province.
The current Representative for the Second District of the Province of Oriental Negros continues to represent Siquijor during their term of office.
All funds, obligations, and property owned by or assigned to the Subprovince of Siquijor shall become the property of or be assigned to the new Province of Siquijor.
These officials shall become the fiscal, assessor, division superintendent of schools, and district engineer of the new Province of Siquijor respectively.
Yes, all appointive officials shall continue to hold their respective offices in the new province with corresponding changes in their official designations if they are heads of offices.
No, Siquijor shall not be entitled to any delegate as a separate province; it will continue as part of the Second Congressional District of Oriental Negros.
All Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with Republic Act No. 6398 are repealed.