The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the request of Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo for the plebiscite declaring the city as a highly urbanized city to be synchronized with the holding of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Nov. 2.
In a Minute Resolution No. 26-0526, the Commission en banc adopted the recommendation of its Deputy Executive Director for Operations and approved the request of the local chief executive of Naga City submitted last June 25.
“The Commission, after due deliberation, resolved, as it hereby resolves, to adopt the recommendation of Deputy Executive Director for Operations Rafael Olaño and approve the request of Hon. Mayor Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo of Naga City that the plebiscite for the ratification of Presidential Proclamation No. 1267 be synchronized with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to be held on 2 November 2026,” it said.
“Resolved, further, that considering that Naga City is an independent component city, only the registered votes of Naga City shall be entitled to vote in the plebiscite for the ratification of Presidential Proclamation No. 1267,” the poll body added.
Section 453 of the Local Government Code of 1991 requires the ratification through a plebiscite of the delegation of the president converting a city into a highly urbanized city, as provided under Article 12 (b) of Administrative Order No. 270.
Robredo, who personally received the approved Resolution on Friday at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila, said synchronizing the plebiscite with the BSKE will minimize the cost compared to holding it separately.
“If it will be held separately, we estimate that the cost will double… if held separately, our rough estimate is about PHP50 million,” Robredo said in an interview.
Based on Comelec, there are 119,259 registered voters in Naga City. (PNA)