BACOLOD CITY, (PNA)–The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set for January 11, 2014 the plebiscite for the ratification of the creation of another village in this city to be called Barangay Paglaum.
This was confirmed by City Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, who said he was informed by the poll body about the schedule.
Barangay Paglaum will be composed of certain areas that are still part of Barangay Mansilingan at present. City Ordinance 606, Series of 2012 provides the creation of Barangay Paglaum.
Mansilingan has a voting population of 17,000 to 18,000.If the “Yes” votes will win in the plebiscite, Paglaum will become the 62nd barangay of Bacolod.
Gemeno Ymballa, lawyer for the petitioners, said he was also informed by Lopez about the schedule of the plebiscite.
A copy of the Comelec resolution regarding the plebiscite will be furnished to them, he said.
Ymballa said the conversion of Paglaum into a barangay is long overdue.
With the huge size of Mansilingan, the barangay administration could not effectively deliver basic services to Paglaum, he said.
Ymballa said both Mansilingan and Paglaum have already settled the issue about the boundaries even before C. O. 606 was passed.
He added that the budget of Mansilingan will not be affected, explaining that barangays created before 1991 will continue to receive the same Internal Revenue Allotment share.
Last April 3, the Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved an ordinance appropriating the amount of P3 million for the conduct of the plebiscite.