Palace declares Dec. 17 non-working day in Baliwag for cityhood plebiscite

PAMAHALAANG BAYAN NG BALIWAG. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

BALIWAG, Bulacan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared Dec. 17 a non-working day in this town to allow voters to participate in the scheduled plebiscite for cityhood.

The declaration was contained in Proclamation No. 108 issued on Monday, according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

“In order to give the people of the municipality of Baliwag the opportunity to actively and fully participate in the plebiscite and exercise their right to vote, it is but fitting and proper to declare December 17 as a special non-working day,” part of the proclamation read.

The electoral exercise will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 200 precincts in 26 voting centers of the municipality’s 27 villages.

Local officials said they expected 85 to 90 percent turnout from the 108,572 registered voters who will cast their “yes” or “no” votes.

At a press briefing here on Friday, Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia appealed to voters to participate in the electoral exercise.

Lawyer Mona Ann Aldana-Campos, Bulacan provincial election supervisor, said around 300 police and military personnel would be deployed to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the plebiscite.

Mayor Ferdinand Estrella also encouraged the electorate to go out and vote “yes” to the conversion of Baliwag into a component city “to further push for the progress and development” of the town. INQ

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