Manila Standard

Residents say ‘yes’ to SJDM split into four

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RStandEaSr­dIDENTS of Barangay Muzon in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan approved the split of the village into four, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported on Sunday.

Comelec spokespers­on John Rex Laudingco said a total of 12,324 residents, or 92.51 percent of the 13,322 registered voters who participat­ed in the plebiscite on Saturday, agreed to split their biggest barangay into four – Barangay Muzon Proper, Barangay Muzon East, Barangay Muzon West, and Barangay Muzon South.

The barangay has a total of 43,771 registered voters, but only 30.44 percent (13,322) participat­ed in the plebiscite.

“Given this clear mandate from the constituen­cy of Barangay Muzon, considered the most populous area in the City of San Jose del Monte, the original barangay will henceforth be divided into four distinct and independen­t barangays,” Laudingco said in a statement.

The move to split the barangay into four is aimed at improving the delivery of basic social services.

Laudiangco said the Comelec

en banc, headed by chair George Garcia, expressed gratitude to poll employees as well as all its stakeholde­rs, including the local government of Bulacan and the City of San Jose del Monte, for their help and support in ensuring a peaceful and orderly plebiscite.

The Comelec earlier said more than 70 clustered precincts in four voting centers have opened to accommodat­e voters for the plebiscite on Saturday morning that will divide Barangay Muzon in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

In a statement, the poll body said more than 43,000 registered voters would decide if they want to divide their barangay into four separate barangays.

It said if a majority of voters approved the division, each barangay would be independen­t of one another and have its own officials.

The plebiscite is the second for the province after the poll body held the plebiscite in Baliwag, Bulacan, where the people voted to convert the municipali­ty into a component city.

A total of 23,562 voters participat­ed in the Dec. 17, 2022 plebiscite, 17,814 of whom agreed to ratify RA 11929, which converted Baliwag into a city.

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