Be it enacted by the Batasang Pambansa in session assembled:

SECTION 1. Subject to the ratification by the majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be held in the newly created Municipality of Sto. Niño, Province of South Cotabato, the. barangays of Sto. Niño, Guinsang-an, San Vicente, Panay, Manuel Roxas, Katipunan, and San Isidro are hereby separated from the Municipality of Norala, and Barangays Ambalgan and Teresita are separated from the Municipality of Banga, and constituted into a distinct and independent municipality in the same province to be known as the Municipality of Sto. Niño. The seat of government of the new municipality shall be in the present site of Barangays Sto. Niño.

SEC. 2. The Municipality of Sto. Niño shall be bounded as follows:

Beginning from point 1 on the Surallah-Banga boundary barrio of Teresita;

Thence, going Southwest following the old boundary of Banga-Surallah to point 2 at intersection of Allah River;

Thence, following the course of Allah River in the Northwesterly direction to point 3 (Intersection of Allah River and farm road, Northeastern corner of Lot 283, Pls-258-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato) ;

Thence, going directly West following the farm road until it meets Sepaka River to point 4 (Intersection of Sepaka River and Northwestern corner of Lot 638, Pls-585-D, Map of Surallah, South Cotabato) ;

Thence, following the course of the Sepaka River in a Northeasterly direction to point 5 (Junction of Allah River and Sepaka River);

Thence, following the course of Allah River in a Northwesterly direction to point 6 (Intersection of Allah River and farm road, Northwestern corner of Lot 1774, Pls-406-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato) ;

Thence, following the farm road in a Southeastern direction to point 7 (Northeastern corner of Lot 715, Pls-212-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato) ;

Thence, following the farm road in a Southwestern direction to point 8 (Southeastern corner of Lot 736 and Southwestern corner of Lot 745, all of Pls-212-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato);

Thence, going in the Southeastern direction in a straight line to point 9 (Northeastern corner of Lot 349, Pls-406-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato) ;

Thence, following the farm road in the Southwestern direction to point 10 (Southeastern corner of Lot 426, Pls-406-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato) ;

Thence, going in the Southeastern direction to point 11 (Northeastern corner of Lot 442, Pls-212-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato) ;

Thence, following the farm road in a Southwestern direction to point 12 (Southeastern corner of Lot 442, Pls-212-D, Map of Norala, South Cotabato);

Thence, going in Southwestern direction following the old Norala-Banga boundary line to point 14 (Old boundary point of Norala and Banga near the barrio of Sto. Niño);

Thence, following the farm road in a Southeastern direction till it reaches the point of beginning near the barrio of Teresita.

SEC. 3. After the ratification of the creation of such municipality in a plebiscite, the mayor and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of the new Municipality of Sto. Niño shall be appointed by the President (Prime Minister), and shall hold office until their successors shall have been elected and qualified in the regular election for local officials.

SEC. 4. The Commission on Elections shall conduct and supervise the plebiscite mentioned in Section one hereof, which shall be held within one hundred twenty (120) days upon the approval of this Act. The expenses for such plebiscite shall be paid out of the appropriations provided for in the General Appropriations Act for the Commission on Elections: Provided, That the amount spent in excess of that which the Commission on Elections can provide will be borne by the local government unit concerned.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, December 23, 1980.