MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday held a plebiscite among five barangays in Parañaque City to ratify a city ordinance that aims to change the territorial boundaries of these barangays.
This is in line with the City Ordinance No. 2023-19 Series of 2022 dated July 13, 2023 entitled “An Ordinance Altering the Existing Territorial Boundaries of Five Coastal Barangays Within the Territorial Jurisdiction of the City of Parañaque Adjoining the Reclaimed Areas in Manila Bay: namely: Barangay Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, La Huerta, and San Dionisio, Adopting for This Purpose the Straight Line Policy in the Determination of Amended Boundaries Thereof.”
READ: Comelec to hold plebiscite in 5 barangays in Parañaque City on July 25
The Comelec noted that the straight line policy determines the scope of coastal reclaimed areas using geometric values to draw property limits of changing and irregular shorelines. This ensures legal parameters in land titles, taxation, and jurisdiction.
The poll body explained that a plebiscite must be conducted following the declaration of unconstitutionality of the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of an earlier City Ordinance No. 03-06 series of 2003.
“Based on this decision, there had been significant changes in the ordinance on the boundary of Barangay Tambo that did not undergo proper procedure as stated by the Constitution,” Comelec wrote in a Facebook post.
READ: Comelec OKs Robredo plea to sync plebiscite with BSKE
With this, it said that a plebiscite must be held for the City Ordinance No. 2023-19 to become legal and constitutional.
The five barangays’ 79,250 registered voters may vote yes or no in their ballot bearing the question: “Pumapayag ka ba na italaga at ipamahagi sa Barangay Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, La Huerta, at San Dionisio ang mga reclaimed na lupa upang mapalawak ang hangganan ng kani-kanilang teritoryo ayon sa City Ordinance No. 2023-19 (Do you agree to allocate and distribute the reclaimed land in Barangays Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, La Huerta and San Dionisio to expand the boundaries of their respective territories, in accordance with City Ordinance No. 2023-19)?”
Voters’ turnout expectation
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Saturday said that the poll body is expecting a 35% voters’ turnout for this election activity, noting historical data where plebiscites usually provide an average of 30-35% turnout.
“Others may think that this is not a contested plebiscite, this is kind of highly-contested because some people oppose the proposed partition of areas in Aseana,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.
He then said that results may be declared not later than 3 a.m. on Sunday, adding that the poll body can start canvassing votes on Saturday evening.
He also inspected the early voting initiative of the poll body where senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women can vote from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. The early voting hours were first implemented during the 2025 midterm elections.
Meanwhile, regular voting hours will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Voting centers for the plebiscite:
- Barangay Tambo: Tambo Elementary School Central
- Barangay Don Galo: Don Galo Elementary School
- Barangay La Huerta: La Huerta Elementary School
- Barangay Baclaran: Baclaran Elementary School; Parañaque National High School – Baclaran; and Baclaran Elementary School Unit – 2
- Barangay San Dionisio: Parañaque Elementary School Central; SM City Sucat; and Parañaque National High School – Main /das
The post Comelec holds plebiscite in 5 barangays in Parañaque appeared first on Inquirer.net.
