2023 San Jose del Monte conversion plebiscite

2023 San Jose del Monte conversion plebiscite
October 30, 2023
Do you agree to the City of San Jose del Monte, Province of Bulacan becoming a 'Highly-Urbanized City' pursuant to Proclamation No. 1057 which became law on December 4, 2020?
OutcomeProposal rejected
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 620,707 43.07%
No 820,385 56.93%
Valid votes 1,441,092 89.62%
Invalid or blank votes 166,912 10.38%
Total votes 1,608,004 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 2,092,248 76.86%

A plebiscite was held in the province of Bulacan, Philippines, on October 30, 2023, with the purpose of determining if San Jose del Monte should be converted into a highly urbanized city. If carried, San Jose del Monte will be politically, fiscally, and administratively independent from Bulacan; if rejected, the city will remain a component city of Bulacan.

The city government was for the proposal, while the provincial government did not oppose it. The measure was rejected, with a narrow majority of voters in San Jose del Monte itself voting against the proposal.

The plebiscite was held concurrently with the 2023 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections; therefore, in Bulacan, a voter may receive up to three ballots.

COMELEC Malolos Provincial Election Supervisor, Mona Ann T. Aldana Campos

Background

Map showing the location of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan

San Jose del Monte became a component city of the province of Bulacan on September 10, 2000 through Republic Act No. 8797 which was authored by Angelito Sarmiento, the representative of its 4th congressional district at the time. The city later represented itself as a lone congressional district on December 18, 2003.[1]

On December 6, 2020, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 1057, proclaiming San Jose del Monte as a highly-urbanized city. The proclamation came after the city's Sangguniang Panglungsod passed Resolution No. 2019-059-09, requesting the President to proclaim the city as such due to meeting the requirements of having "a minimum population of 200,000 as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority and an income of at least P50 million as certified by the City Treasurer". The proclamation will take effect after ratification in a plebiscite.[2]

Preparations

Scheduling

The plebiscite supposed to be held four months after the 2022 national and local elections[3] but it was overdue ever since then. On September 11, 2023, the COMELEC scheduled the plebiscite on October 30, synchronizing with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.[4][5]

Questions

The ballot question is as follows:[4]

In Filipino:

Pumapayag ka ba na ang Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte, Lalawigan ng Bulacan ay gawing isang 'Highly-Urbanized City' alinsunod sa Proclamation No. 1057 na naging ganap na batas noong Disyembre 4, 2020?

English translation:

Do you agree to the City of San Jose del Monte, Province of Bulacan becoming a 'Highly-Urbanized City' pursuant to Proclamation No. 1057 which became law on December 4, 2020?

Voters were opted to write "yes" or "oo" if they agree, or "no" or "hindi" if they oppose the proposal.[4]

Campaign

The San Jose del Monte government kickstarted its 'Yes' campaign on September 9, 2023 with the Tanglawan Festival.[6] According to Representative Rida Robes, the city "desperately needs" its highly-urbanized city status, and if it stayed being a component city, it will have a small source of funds for service to its people.[7] The League of Municipalities of the Philippines' Bulacan chapter pledged its support through a manifesto.[8] All six members of the House of Representatives from Bulacan supported the proposal.[9] The National Movement of Young Legislators Bulacan Chapter was also for the proposal.[10] The Iglesia ni Cristo backed the proposal, as well.[11]

However, the city's 2nd district councilor Romeo Agapito said that the city is not yet ready for the status, citing higher taxes, unemployment and aid from the provincial capitol becoming limited if it did become a highly urbanized city.[12] The provincial chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay is against the proposal.[9] Two previous governors of Bulacan, Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Roberto Pagdanganan, opposed the conversion.[13] The current governor, Daniel Fernando, remarked that "no father is happy when he sees his child leave," but left the choice to the people.[14]

Results

The majority of voters rejected the conversion, as declared by COMELEC two days after the plebiscite,[15] while a tenth of those who participated in the conduct did not vote, leaving blank ballots.[11]

COMELEC explained that the involvement of the entire Bulacan in the plebiscite is due to a Supreme Court ruling on a similar case in Nueva Ecija, G.R. No. 203974: Umali v. COMELEC.[a] Unlike before when only the city itself could participate in such cases, the decision indicated that all residents affected by the change of constituency in such an entity should be consulted.[17]

Do you agree to the City of San Jose del Monte, Province of Bulacan becoming a 'Highly-Urbanized City'?
Choice Votes %
Referendum failed No 820,385 56.93
Yes 620,707 43.07
Valid votes 1,441,092 89.62
Invalid or blank votes 166,912 10.38
Total votes 1,608,004 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 2,092,248 76.86
Source: [15]

Per city/municipality

Results per city/municipality[11]
City/Municipality Yes / Oo No / Hindi Valid votes Invalid votes Turnout Registered voters
Total % Total % Total % Total % Total %
Angat 10,359 32.81 21,211 67.19 31,570 89.37 3,756 10.63 35,326 80.72 43,762
Balagtas 13,010 35.85 23,280 64.15 36,290 89.66 4,187 10.34 40,477 71.01 57,001
Baliwag 35,489 45.23 42,969 54.77 78,548 90.18 8,547 9.82 87,005 78.13 111,356
Bocaue 26,423 48.93 27,575 51.07 53,998 90.63 5,580 9.37 59,578 74.31 80,171
Bulakan 11,848 32.06 25,113 67.94 36,961 88.34 4,880 11.66 41,841 75.66 55,304
Bustos 16,504 47.22 18,449 52.78 34,953 88.89 4,367 11.11 39,320 77.99 50,416
Calumpit 18,464 35.86 33,025 64.14 51,489 89.36 6,132 10.64 57,621 79.49 72,489
Doña Remedios Trinidad 6,053 36.93 10,337 63.07 16,390 84.13 3,091 15.87 19,841 75.99 25,636
Guiguinto 21,050 42.03 29,029 57.97 50,079 88.59 6,452 11.41 56,531 73.53 76,884
Hagonoy 16,421 29.22 39,773 70.78 56,194 88.23 7,497 11.77 63,691 74.95 84,983
Malolos 33,633 36.82 57,712 63.18 91,345 92.27 8,195 8.28 99,000 75.70 130,785
Marilao 41,631 55.35 33,579 44.65 75,210 91.41 7,069 8.59 82,279 74.87 109,899
Meycauayan 61,214 69.75 26,554 30.25 87,768 89.83 9,924 10.16 97,702 73.94 132,144
Norzagaray 13,904 24.48 42,892 75.52 56,796 92.10 4,782 7.75 61,668 76.87 80,228
Obando 10,420 46.09 12,190 53.91 22,610 88.20 3,026 11.80 25,636 70.81 36,202
Pandi 31,530 47.98 34,188 52.02 65,718 88.38 8,641 11.62 74,359 79.71 93,282
Paombong 8,645 32.08 18,304 67.92 26,949 88.42 3,528 11.58 30,477 78.44 38,856
Plaridel 17,739 38.23 28,658 61.77 46,397 87.79 6,450 12.21 52,847 73.82 71,585
Pulilan 17,944 38.86 28,231 61.14 46,175 86.59 7,151 13.41 53,326 78.45 67,978
San Ildefonso 24,372 41.44 34,447 58.56 58,519 87.01 8,781 12.99 67,600 85.28 79,267
San Jose del Monte 92,714 48.68 97,754 51.32 190,468 95.31 9,381 4.69 199,849 72.08 277,274
San Miguel 31,853 43.27 41,769 56.73 73,622 79.85 18,577 20.15 92,199 88.61 104,056
San Rafael 16,394 33.97 31,861 66.03 48,255 87.52 6,878 12.48 55,133 81.94 67,286
Santa Maria 43,093 41.29 61,285 58.71 104,378 90.72 10,680 9.28 115,058 76.56 150,289
Bulacan 620,707 43.07 820,385 56.93 1,441,092 89.62 166,912 10.38 1,608,004 76.86 2,092,048
Certificate of Canvass of Votes and Proclamation

Per legislative district

For purposes of representation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Bulacan is divided into seven congressional districts, the 1st to 6th congressional districts of Bulacan, and San Jose del Monte's district.

For purposes of representation in the Bulacan Provincial Board, it is identical to congressional districts, except that San Jose del Monte is not treated separately but is instead included in the 4th provincial board district.

Results per congressional district
District Yes No Valid votes
Total % Total %
Bulacan's 1st district 106,955 34.60 202,158 65.40 309,113
Bulacan's 2nd district 69,732 43.63 90,076 56.37 159,808
Bulacan's 3rd district 78,672 39.92 118,414 60.08 197,086
Bulacan's 4th district 113,265 61.03 72,323 38.97 185,588
Bulacan's 5th district 92,013 44.65 114,072 55.35 206,085
Bulacan's 6th district 67,356 34.95 125,388 65.05 192,744
San Jose del Monte's lone district 92,714 48.68 97,754 51.32 190,468
Bulacan 620,707 43.07 820,385 56.93 1,441,092
Results per provincial board district
District Yes No Valid votes
Total % Total %
1st district 106,955 34.60 202,158 65.40 309,113
2nd district 69,732 43.63 90,076 56.37 159,808
3rd district 78,672 39.92 118,414 60.08 197,086
4th district 205,979 54.77 170,077 45.23 376,056
5th district 92,013 44.65 114,072 55.35 206,085
6th district 67,356 34.95 125,388 65.05 192,744
Bulacan 620,707 43.07 820,385 56.93 1,441,092

Notes

  1. ^ In 2014, the court ordered the conduct of the same plebiscite for Cabanatuan across its mother province, but it was eventually cancelled.[16]

References

  1. ^ Mauricio, Orlan L. (October 20, 2023). "Plebiscite to make SJDM highly urbanized city set". Manila Standard. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  2. ^ de la Cruz, Jovee Marie N. (December 9, 2020). "Ratification next step after Duterte proclaims San Jose del Monte in Bulacan a highly-urbanized city". Business Mirror. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "Comelec postpones 5 plebiscites to prepare for May 2022 polls". Philippine News Agency. August 19, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "COMELEC, isasabay sa BSKE ang plebisito ng San Jose del Monte, Bulacan bilang isang highly-urbanized city" (in Filipino). Brigada News. September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Naval, Gerard (September 11, 2023). "San Jose del Monte plebiscite to be held with BSKE – Comelec". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  6. ^ Cantos, Joy (September 10, 2023). "Kampanya sa HUC status ng San Jose del Monte City, rumatsada na" (in Filipino). Philippine Star. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Begas, Billy (September 10, 2023). "Robes Couple Seeks Support For San Jose Del Monte Highly Urbanized City Upgrade". Politiko. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "San Jose Del Monte bilang HUC tinukuran ng LMP-Bulacan" (in Filipino). Abante. October 10, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Silverio, Frederick (October 26, 2023). "Fernando: Let the people decide". The Manila Times. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "Bulacan residents to vote on San Jose del Monte's conversion into highly urbanized city on BSKE day". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Cruz, James Patrick (November 1, 2023). "In charts: How Bulacan towns vote on bid to convert San Jose del Monte into highly-urbanized city". Rappler. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Silverio, Frederick (October 18, 2023). "CSJDM 'not ready' to separate from Bulacan". The Manila Times. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Silverio, Frederick (November 2, 2023). "Conversion of Bulacan city into HUC rejected". The Manila Times. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  14. ^ Leon, Dwight de (October 29, 2023). "Aside from barangay polls, Bulacan to decide on fate of San Jose del Monte". Rappler. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Rita, Joviland (November 1, 2023). "Voters turn down conversion of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to highly urbanized city". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Planned plebiscites for Cabanatuan:
  17. ^ "Bulacan residents vote against turning San Jose del Monte into highly urbanized city". Politiko (Central Luzon). November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  • Proclamation No. 1057, Conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan into a Highly-Urbanized City
  • COMELEC Resolution No. 10948, Resolution adapting the Calendar of Activities and Periods of Certain Prohibited Acts in connection with the October 30, 2023 BSKE under Resolution No. 10905 as the Calendar of Activities for the purpose of Plebiscite to Ratify the Conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan into a Highly-Urbanized City pursuant to Proclamation No. 1057