OVER 10,000 registered voters in Ormoc City, Leyte are expected to troop to polling precincts Saturday, October 8, 2022, as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to hold the plebiscite for the reorganization of 29 of its barangays.

In a phone interview, Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said everything is prepared for the holding of the plebiscite for the merging and renaming of 29 barangays of Ormoc City.

"We are all systems go," said Laudiangco.

No less than Comelec Chairman George Garcia and Commissioners Socorro Inting and Rey Bulay are expected to personally witness the conduct of the plebiscite.

A total of 10,209 registered voters from Barangays 1 to 29 are set to manually cast their votes in a total of 75 established precincts located in a single voting center.

Voting hours will open at 7 a.m. and will run until 3 p.m., to be followed immediately by the counting of votes.

By 6 p.m., the Barangay Plebiscite Boards of Canvassers are expected to convene to start the canvassing of votes, followed by proclamation of results.

The plebiscite seeks to get the approval on the proposed merger of Barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23, and 27 to form one barangay to be known and referred to as Barangay South.

It is also looking to gain the nod on the merger of Barangays 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 25, and 28 to form one barangay to be known and referred to as Barangay East.

It will also ask for the approval on the merger of Barangays 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, and 26 to form one barangay to be known and referred to as Barangay West.

It also seeks to get the public pulse on the renaming of Barangay 29 to Barangay North.

It was back in January 2021 when then Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez approved Ordinance 052, which calls for the holding of a plebiscite for the reorganization and renaming of the barangays. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)