NAGA CITY, Philippines — Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia has urged qualified voters in Naga City, particularly the youth, to participate in the November 21 plebiscite on the city’s proposed conversion into a highly urbanized city (HUC), stressing that the decision will help shape Naga’s future.

Garcia was in Legazpi City on Friday, October 9, 2026, to meet with representatives of various government agencies, members of the local media, and other stakeholders during a coordinating conference for the November 21 HUC plebiscite in Naga City.

In his message, Garcia said the plebiscite offers Nagueños an opportunity to decide on a development milestone that could give the city greater access to national government funding, a bigger National Tax Allocation (NTA), and increased revenue opportunities.

These potential advantages could enable the city government to expand public services and implement more programs and projects for the benefit and welfare of Nagueños.

Noting the importance of encouraging young people to participate in the plebiscite, Garcia said, “It is important to extend to the youth the opportunity of charting the destiny of Naga in the future.”

He called on the city government to conduct a massive information and education campaign in the barangays to explain the importance of participating in the plebiscite, particularly to young voters.

“It should be explained to them that the plebiscite is for their own good, they as the future of the city,” he added.

Garcia emphasized that because Naga is an independent component city, only its qualified voters are entitled to participate in the plebiscite. He urged them not to miss the opportunity to help shape the city’s future, noting that voting day would be a no-classes, no-work day.

The COMELEC chief also explained that the plebiscite would follow a plurality-vote system, under which the side receiving more votes wins. This means the YES vote would not need to obtain more than half of the total registered voters to prevail; it would need to receive more votes than the NO side.

Garcia said he would consider a YES vote of around 65 to 70 percent a favorable result, although the outcome would ultimately depend on the votes cast by qualified Nagueños.

He also discussed the funding needed to conduct the plebiscite, saying COMELEC would seek ways to provide the additional P30 million needed to augment the city government’s P20-million allocation and meet the estimated P50-million requirement.

Garcia cited higher income and revenue, improved access to national government funding, and a larger NTA as among the potential advantages of HUC status. He noted that several cities aspire to attain the classification, although not all have succeeded.

“There are lots of cities who wish to become an HUC, and there are lots also who did not succeed,” he said, underscoring the significance of the opportunity before Naga.

With the plebiscite scheduled for November 21, Garcia urged qualified voters to understand the implications of the proposed conversion and make their voices heard.

The decision will be made through the ballot, giving every qualified Nagueño an opportunity to help determine the city’s future. | via Jason B. Neola, CMO-Public Information Office head