Duterte approves cityhood of Calaca, Batangas

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure converting the municipality of Calaca in Batangas into a component city.

Duterte signed Calaca’s cityhood through Republic Act No. 11544 on May 26, a copy of which only made public on Thursday.

A plebiscite among Calaca residents is all that is left for the law to be effective.

The plebiscite must be conducted in Calaca within 90 days from the approval of the law.

Once the conversion is approved through the plebiscite, Calaca will become the fifth city in Batangas. The province currently comprises four cities and 30 municipalities.

The law also noted that Calaca will remain under the jurisdiction of Batangas’ first legislative district.

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