Friday, September 2, 2022
Comelec 'all set' for Sept. 3 Calaca plebiscite
By Ferdinand Patinio
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is all set to hold the plebiscite that will determine the fate of the conversion of the Calaca town in Batangas into a component city on Saturday.
“We are 100 percent ready. The briefing of the Plebiscite Board and the Plebiscite Committee concluded on Thursday. All ballots, forms and supplies have been tendered to the Municipal Treasurer, and such will be distributed to all Plebiscite Boards and Plebiscite Committee early tomorrow (Saturday) morning in accordance with the General Instructions,” acting Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said in an interview Friday.
He added that all poll workers for all clustered precincts have been duly accounted for while alternate workers are on standby to fill in for those who will not report.
The local government unit (LGU) of Calaca has allocated a budget of PHP13.7 million for the plebiscite.
There are a total of 58,881 official ballots to be used in the activity -- Plebiscite Returns - 123 sets (one set of three copies); Certificate of Canvass and Proclamation - one set of four copies; Statement of Votes by Precinct - eight sets (one set of four copies) and Summary of Votes - one set of four copies.
Each ballot measures 4.5 inches by 8 inches and bears the question, "Pumapayag ka ba na ang munisipalidad ng Calaca ay gawing isang lungsod ng probinsiya ng Batangas na kikilalanin bilang lungsod ng Calaca alinsunod sa Batas Republika bilang 11544 na kilala din bilang Charter of the City of Calaca? (Do you favor the conversion of the municipality of Calaca into a component city of Batangas pursuant to Republic Act 11544 also known as the Charter of the City of Calaca?)
Voters will write either "Yes" or "Oo" to vote for the approval of the proposal, or "No" or "Hindi" to vote for its rejection, in the blank after the question.
Aside from the activity in Region 4-A (Calabarzon), the Province of Maguindanao will also hold a plebiscite on Sept. 17.
The plebiscite is set to ratify the division of the Province of Maguindanao into 2 districts and independent provinces -- Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
The province which is under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has allotted PHP89.17 million for the holding of the plebiscite.