NAGA CITY, Philippines — Greater access to national government funding, a larger National Tax Allocation (NTA) and expanded revenue opportunities are among the potential benefits awaiting Naga City if its proposed conversion into a highly urbanized city (HUC) is approved in the November 21 plebiscite, according to election officials.
Atty. Maico Julia Jr., election officer IV of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Naga, said HUC status could help make the city more progressive and attract additional investments, creating opportunities to expand public services and finance development projects.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia likewise emphasized the importance of the plebiscite in determining Naga’s future, particularly for the younger generation, who will eventually shape the city’s development.
“It is important to extend to the youth the opportunity of charting the destiny of Naga in the future,” Garcia said during a coordinating conference in Legazpi City on October 9.
Garcia said voters should understand that the plebiscite directly concerns their interests and the city’s long-term prospects. He cited the potential for greater national government funding, a bigger NTA and additional revenue sources as opportunities that could strengthen Naga’s capacity to deliver public services and implement infrastructure and development programs.
He noted that some cities aspire to become highly urbanized but do not succeed, underscoring the significance of the opportunity before Naga.
The Comelec began printing ballots on October 19 at the National Printing Office in Quezon City for the November 21 plebiscite. The activity was open to accredited citizens’ arms, stakeholders and media representatives and livestreamed through the commission’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
In preparation for the exercise, Comelec-Naga has scheduled a final coordinating conference on November 10 at the second-floor PAGCOR Event Center at the Balatas Development Complex. The meeting will bring together representatives of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, the Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Naga City government to finalize security, personnel and other operational arrangements.
Garcia, Mayor Leni Robredo, Comelec commissioners and other officials will spearhead the conduct of the conference.
Julia said the coordination would cover the police’s peace and order preparations, the deployment of teachers who will serve as election volunteers, their required training, and the Philippine Army’s security arrangements.
The information and education campaign is also expected to intensify ahead of the plebiscite. The Comelec is conducting pulong-pulong in barangays to explain the voting process and the implications of HUC conversion.
The campaign period runs from October 19 to November 19. The city government, meanwhile, is advocating a YES vote in support of the proposed conversion.
Garcia explained that the plebiscite would be decided through a plurality-vote system, under which the side receiving more votes would prevail. A YES vote would therefore not need to obtain more than half of all registered voters, but would have to receive more votes than the NO side.
Approximately 119,000 registered voters are expected to be eligible to participate, with turnout projected at around 70 percent, based on the figures provided by election officials.
Voting on November 21 will begin with an early voting period from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Regular voting will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Julia also reminded registered voters of the importance of exercising their right to vote, warning that failure to vote in two consecutive elections could result in the removal of their names from the list of qualified voters, subject to applicable Comelec rules. | via Jason B. Neola, CMO-Public Information Division head
