Thursday, August 29, 2019

Voter registration suspended in Batangas town for plebiscite

By Ferdinand Patinio

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended for a week the voter registration in Sto. Tomas, Batangas to give way to the events prior to a plebiscite for its cityhood on September 7.

Comelec Resolution No. 10559 released on Wednesday, stated that the listing activities in connection with the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be put on hold from September 4 to 11.

The registration is set to resume on September 12.

The nationwide registration of voters for village and youth polls started on August 1 and will end on September 30.

On the other hand, pursuant to Republic Act No. 11086, the poll body is mandated to set the date and supervise the conduct of the plebiscite converting the present municipality of Santo Tomas into a component city of Batangas.

On the said date, voters will write the word “Yes” or “Oo” on the official ballot if they vote for the approval of the ratification of R.A. No. 11086, which converts the municipality into a city.

Those who will vote for its rejection will write the word “No” or “Hindi”.

All qualified and duly registered voters of the town may cast their votes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

An express lane will be provided for pregnant voters, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens.

Illiterates and members of the marginalized sector, who cannot, by themselves, accomplish the ballots may be assisted by qualified persons subject to guidelines set forth in the plebiscite.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078888

Santa Rosa in Laguna gets own legislative district

The city of Santa Rosa in the province of Laguna now has its own legislative district under a new law signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Under Republic Act No. 11395, Santa Rosa, which is currently in the first legislative district of Laguna, will now constitute its own legislative district.

"The City of Santa Rosa is hereby separated from the First Legislative District of the Province of Laguna to constitute the Lone Legislative District of the City of Santa Rosa, which shall commence in the next national and local elections after the effectivity of this Act," the law read.

Currently, San Pedro City is the only city, which remains part of Laguna’s first district.

Santa Rosa City is Laguna’s third legislative district since 2016 after the cities of BiƱan and Calamba.

Rep. Danilo Ramon Fernandez, the incumbent representative of the first legislative district of Laguna, will continue to represent the said district until the first representative for Santa Rosa is elected.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be tasked to issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act within 60 days from the effectivity of the act.

Duterte signed the act constituting the lone legislative district of Santa Rosa on Aug. 22 but a copy of the document was released to the media only on Wednesday (Aug. 28).

Santa Rosa City currently has a population of over 353,767.

A total of 213,913 registered voters in Santa Rosa City participated in the 2019 midterm elections. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078974