CITY OF SAN FERNANDO--Third District Board Member Mica Gonzales yesterday filed a resolution supporting the move for the creation and recognition of Barangay Pulungbulu as a barangay of this capital city.

It could be remembered that her father, Third District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. has refiled a bill that will formally start the congressional creation of a new barangay in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

The younger Gonzales said that move will greatly benefit the people of Pulungbulu who will enjoy the benefits of a regular revenue allotment from the national government to fund local programs, projects and social services by the barangay.

"I believe that the support of the province through Governor Dennis Pineda and Vice Governor Lilia Pineda would surely contribute for the speedy realization of this proposal that is now in the congress," Gonzales said.

Gonzales filed House Bill No. 182 to push for the congressional creation of Barangay Pulung Bulu in this capital city and to enable the barangay to have its internal revenue allotment (IRA).

It could be noted that Pulung Bulu has existed through a city ordinance.

The village has been formally organized into a barangay for the past 18 years.

However, the barangay does not have its own IRA.

“Barangays created by Congress are entitled to IRA. Barangays created by local government units (LGUs) are not entitled to IRA. The remedy now is to file a bill in Congress for the creation of this barangay and provide its share in the IRA,” Gonzales told SunStar Pampanga.

Gonzales said the plebiscite conducted and supervised by the Commission on Elections in Barangay Baliti and Malino under Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 2002-010, Series of 2002, which ratified the creation of Barangay Pulung Bulu, will serve as substantial compliance of the requirements of the Local Government Code of 1991

The barangay is still dependent on the City Government of San Fernando with only a P2.5-million budget allocation. Its population as determined by the 2020 Census is 6,448, representing 1.82 percent of the total population of San Fernando.