Map of Bulacan
MANILA, Philippines — Bulakenyos voted against converting San Jose del Monte into a highly urbanized city, said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday.
A document shared by Comelec to the media showed that 820,385 Bulakenyos voted “no” to Proclamation No. 1057 in a plebiscite held in the province on October 30.
Meanwhile, 620,707 said they were in favor of the proposition.
According to Comelec chairperson George Garcia, the plebiscite results have been “announced” and “proclaimed,” which means that the conversion of San Jose del Monte as a highly urbanized city will not continue.
In 2020, former President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 1057, declaring San Jose Del Monte as a highly urbanized city subject to ratification in a plebiscite by qualified voters in the city.
The proclamation states that San Jose del Monte “has met the minimum requirements prescribed under Section 452 of Republic Act No. 7160 for a city to be classified as highly urbanized.”