Holding of plebiscite on Davao’s new province gets SC green light

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court gave the green light for the holding of a plebiscite about the creation of Davao Occidental, a proposed additional province in the Davao region.

The high court threw out the petition filed by former lawmaker Marc Douglas Cagas IV seeking to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from pushing through with the plebiscite.

“The court dismissed the petition for prohibition filed by Marc Douglas Cagas IV against the Comelec asking to stop the conduct of the plebiscite for the creation of the province of Davao Occidental simultaneously with the October 28,2013 barangay elections,” high court information chief Theodore Te said.

Under Republic Act 10360 signed by President Benigno Aquino III, Davao Occidental will be formed by the municipalities of Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani.

Under the law, a province should have a population of at least 250,000, a minimum land area of 2,000 square kilometers and a minimum annual income of P20 million.