MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law that split Southern Leyte into two legislative districts, ahead of the May 2019 polls.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11198 reapportioning Southern Leyte into two legislative districts, which are divided as follows:

First Legislative District

Maasin City
Macrohon
Padre Burgos
Limasawa
Malitbog
Tomas Oppus
Bontoc

Second Legislative District

Sogod
Libagon
Liloan
San Francisco
Pintuyan
San Ricardo
Saint Bernard
Anahawan
San Juan
Hinundayan
Hinunangan
Silago

The incumbent representative of the lone legislative district of Southern Leyte shall continue to represent the district until the new representatives of the two new districts shall have been duly elected and qualified, the law states.

The Commission on Elections shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this act within 30 days after its effectivity.