Sunday, August 26, 2007 ‘Naga City’ poll to shut out 4T
RESIDENTS of Naga will get their chance on Sunday, Sept. 2, to show whether they approve their town’s conversion into a city, Cebu’s third this year alone.
However, at least 4,000 newly registered or reactivated voters of the town will not be able to participate.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec), in two resolutions promulgated last Thursday, set the calendar of activities as well as the rules for the Naga plebiscite.
Under the rules, only registered voters as of the May 14, 2007 national and local elections are qualified to vote during the plebiscite.
Naga had 44,643 registered voters as of May 14.
But after the continuing registration resumed, in preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this October, the number of registered voters has gone up to 49,131.
This means 4,488 cannot vote in next week’s plebiscite, confirmed Naga Election Officer Ferdinand Hortelano.
The precincts and polling places used in the May 14 elections will be the same precincts to be used on Sunday.
Hortelano said they are already prepared and have spread information in the different barangays. This is why he is expecting a high turnout.
Supplies like the official ballots and other materials for the plebiscite are expected to arrive on Thursday. The town has enough ballot boxes for the activity and these have been readied.
Hortelano plans to create canvassing sub-committees and several reception and custody groups so that that the proceedings will be fast.
The municipal plebiscite board of canvassers has to convene at 4 p.m. and Hortelano is projecting that at 8 p.m., they can proceed with the proclamation.
The carrying of firearms, including licensed ones, will be banned from Aug. 15 to Sept. 8, the town’s plebiscite period.
Those for or against the conversion have until Friday, Aug. 31, to campaign.
Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong said they will start campaigning today by distributing leaflets to churchgoers.
Chiong is optimistic that the “yes” votes will win, but admitted he has apprehensions that residents might not take the time to join.
“Ang ato diha unsaon pag-motivate ang mga tawo nga mobotar kay usahay ra ba, passive kaayo ang mga tawo (Our challenge is to motivate the voters, because sometimes people can be so passive),” he said.
If Naga becomes a city, Chiong said an expected increase in its share of the Internal Revenue Allotment will allow officials to pursue projects like road improvements, water systems, a solid waste management facility, a Naga City College, a new market and a new public cemetery.
If voters approve the conversion, Naga will become the ninth city in Cebu (including Cebu City).
Last June, Bogo officially became a city and just last month, Carcar also became one.
Also last month, Lapu-Lapu City became a highly-urbanized city, which means it has ceased to be a component city of the Province of Cebu. (MBG)
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