Residents of Balanga okay cityhood status

BALANGA, Bataan — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has proclaimed this capital town of Bataan a component city after some 18,149 residents voted "yes" against 1,917 for "no" in a peaceful plebiscite last Saturday.

Ernesto Tiongson, chairman of the board of canvassers, said the residents overwhelmingly cast their votes to ratify the conversion of the province’s capital town into a city as embodied in Republic Act 8984 signed by President Estrada last Dec. 8.

Of the total registered voters of 35,834, about 20,141 voters trooped to 177 precincts in 25 barangays to take part in the plebiscite.

Gov. Leonardo Roman and second district Rep. Enrique Garcia gave their support for Balanga’s cityhood since it would enhance the socio-economic status of the province’s government and commercial center.

Mayor Albert Garcia, son of Rep. Garcia, said Balanga is now on the road to progress and there’s no way of stopping it with the landslide vote for cityhood in the plebiscite. — Raffy Viray