Three new barangays were created in Marawi city after a plebiscite held on March 9, 2024, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). (Photo from Comelec)
MANILA, Philippines — Residents in Marawi have voted to create three new barangays (villages) in their city, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) following a plebiscite held on Saturday.
According to the poll body, 2,123 out of 2,265 voters approved the creation of the three villages, garnering a turnout of 93 percent.
It also said only two voters, who were from Barangay Patani, voted “No.”
The Saturday plebiscite created the following new “distinct and independent” villages:
Barangay Sultan Corobong (created from Barangay Dulay Proper);
Barangay Sultan Panoroganan (created from Barangay Kilala); and
Barangay Angoyao (created from Barangay Patani).
The Comelec said in a statement that all eight clustered precincts in the three voting centers of Barangays Dulay, Kilala, and Patan, opened at 7 a.m. while the voting closed at 3 p.m. as scheduled.
“The Comelec extends its gratitude to all its partner agencies which made the conduct of these plebiscites orderly, peaceful and secure, namely the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, with the full support of the Marawi City Local Government Unit,” it noted.
The electoral body likewise said the high voter turnout shows that “democracy is not merely alive but vibrant and thriving in the Islamic City of Marawi.”
Comelec earlier explained the creation of new villages in the city resulted from the effects of Marawi Siege in 2017, which led to a significant increase in the population on account of internally displaced persons.
The poll body said this prior to the creation of two villages in Marawi in March 2023. These communities are Barangay Boganga II and Barangay Datu Dalidigan.