THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will synchronize the holding of the plebiscite calling for the conversion of San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan into a “highly urbanized city” with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on October 30.
Comelec Resolution No. 10948 states: “Comelec has resolved to approve the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify Proclamation No. 1057 declaring San Jose Del Monte in the province of Bulacan as a highly urbanized city, simultaneously with the October 30, 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.”
It was back in December 2020 when then president Duterte issued Proclamation No. 1057 which converted San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan into a highly urbanized city from being a component city.
The directed the Comelec to hold a plebiscite in the city for the proposed conversion before the conversion is ratified.
And since it will be simultaneously held with the BSKE, the Comelec said it will adopt the Calendar of Activities and period of prohibited acts set for the latter.
“It is practically feasible to adopt the resolution intended for this coming elections as far as applicable to the conduct of plebiscite,” said the poll body.
It said all activities and prohibited acts for the BSKE shall apply in the plebiscite, except for the campaign period, which will be replaced by barangay assemblies.
“The Commission resolves to adopt the Calendar of Activities, and all the prohibited acts provided for under Resolution No. 10905 in so far as applicable to the conduct of plebiscite provided that during the ‘Campaign Period’ (October 19, 2023 to October 28, 2023), the holding of ‘Barangay Assemblies or Pulong-Pulongs’ for purposes of information campaign for the plebiscite will also be conducted,” said the Comelec.
