Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said more than 75 percent or 17,814 of the 23,562 registered voters said “Yes” to the conversion of Baliwag town to Bulacan city during the Plebiscite last Saturday, December 17, 2022. 5,702 or 24.19 percent of voters voted for “No.”
The number of voters who participated in the referendum was only 21.70 percent of the 108,572 registered voters in Baliwag.
“The dream of Baliwageños to strengthen the recognition of their development and emerging economy in the change of their beloved Municipality that is now the City of Baliwag has become a reality with the success of this Plebiscite and the adoption of Republic Act No. , 11929,” Laudiangco said.
“As the 147th city in the Philippines, Baliwag joins the ranks of 109 Component Cities (with 33 Highly-Urbanized Cities and 5 Independent Component Cities),” he added.
The Comelec spokesperson thanked the people of Baliwag for trusting the poll body.
The Road To Baliwag Cityhood
On August 12, 2020, the former President’s son, Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, together with Eric Yap, Lone District Representative of Benguet, and Gavini “Apol” C. Pancho, 2nd District Representative of Bulacan, authored House Bill No. 10444 for the 18th Congress entitled “An Act to Convert the Municipality of Baliwag into a Component City to be known as the City of Baliwag.
“This initiative aims to increase the quality of life of our citizens and produce bigger economic prosperity,” says Duterte upon proposing the bill.
A Senate version, Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2462, was authored by Joel Villanueva, who hails from Bocaue, Bulacan, and sponsored by Senate Committee on Local Government chairperson Francis Tolentino.
The Plebiscite or referendum was scheduled for January 14 next year. However, the Comelec approved Baliwag Mayor Ferdie Estrella’s petition to move the referendum to an earlier date instead of postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. The basis for the December 17 referendum is RA 11929, or the law passed on July 29 that converted the town of Baliwag into a city.
Comelec Resolution No. 10851, which was promulgated in November. 8, information and campaign period from November. December 17 to 15. At this time, various civic, professional, religious, business, youth, and other similar organizations organized symposia and public meetings through the Municipality administration to enlighten the Municipality’s electorate.
The plebiscite period is set for November 17 to December 24. The carrying of arms is strictly prohibited in Baliwag, which is also under the control of the Comelec with its respective checkpoints at the territorial borders.
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Baliwag residents have voted to approve a bill making their town a sub-city of Bulacan province, which will mean a larger share of the revenue from the national government. Baliwag is now the 147th city in the country, and the 4th in the province, together with Malolos, Meycauayan, and San Jose Del Monte.
By becoming a city, Baliwag will receive more internal revenue after deducting the costs of decentralization usually borne by municipalities and provincial governments. This means Baliwag City can spend more on city projects and services.
Sources:
- Mauricio, Orlan L. “Baliwag Voters to Decide on Cityhood Bid.” Manila Standard, 15 Dec. 2022, https://www.manilastandard.net/news/314287981/baliwag-voters-to-decide-on-cityhood-bid.html.
- Person. “Baliwag, Bulacan Votes in Favor of Cityhood.” Philstar.com, Philstar.com, 18 Dec. 2022, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/18/2231591/baliwag-bulacan-votes-favor-cityhood.
- Philippines Graphic. “Measure Converting Baliwag Town into a City up in Congress.” Philippines Graphic, 12 Sept. 2020, https://philippinesgraphic.com.ph/2020/09/12/measure-converting-baliwag-town-into-a-city-up-in-congress/.
- Senate Approves 2 Bills Seen to Boost Bulacan’s Economy. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1175102.
- “Senate Oks Charter of the City of Baliwag.” Latest Photo, https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/photo_release/2022/0523_06.asp.
- Reyes-Estrope, Carmela. “Palace Declares Dec. 17 Non-Working Day in Baliwag for Cityhood Plebiscite.” INQUIRER.net, 17 Dec. 2022, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1706011/palace-declares-dec-17-non-working-day-in-baliwag-for-cityhood-plebiscite.