MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday announced that it is set to hold plebiscites in Marawi City to create two barangays (villages) on March 18.
According to the Comelec, the said plebiscites for the creation of Barangay Boganga II and Barangay Datu Dalidigan mark the first exclusively local electoral exercise in Marawi City since its liberation in 2017.
“The creation of two new Barangays are the [resultant direct] effects of the Marawi Siege, which led to a significant increase in the population on account of internally displaced persons, all of whom are now permanent actual inhabitants whose paramount welfare will be catered to by the newly-created barangay local government units,” the Comelec said.
The Comelec said that Barangay Boganga, from which Barangay Boganga II is proposed to be created, currently has a total population of 6,320.
Meanwhile, Barangay Sagonsagon, which Barangay Datu Dalidigan proposes to be created, now has a total population of 7,137.
Both barangays currently have 992 and 480 registered voters, respectively.
Meanwhile, 1,472 official ballots have been printed for the plebiscites.
Comelec chair George Garcia, Commissioners Socorro Inting, Aimee Ferolino (Commissioner-in-Charge for Plebiscites) and Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda are set to lead the plebiscites on the ground.