San Pedro holds plebiscite on cityhood today

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has declared a special non-working day today in San Pedro town in Laguna where more than 165,000 voters will decide if they want the first-class municipality converted into a component city.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. issued Proclamation 698 giving San Pedro residents the opportunity to participate in the plebiscite ratifying Republic Act 10420, or the law creating the City of San Pedro that President Aquino signed on March 27 this year.

Voting starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

Local officials led by Mayor Lourdes Cataquiz are expecting a resounding “yes” vote, considering that there is virtually no opposition to the town’s impending cityhood.

“This is our long-time dream. Now we have a chance to make it a reality,” Cataquiz said. She led a month-long information campaign where she explained to residents the benefits of cityhood.

Among those supporting the cityhood campaign are religious groups, the academe, youth, men and women, the elderly, transport, and fisherfolk, socio-civic groups, and the business sector.

The Commission on Elections approved the holding of the plebiscite last November and passed three resolutions governing the exercise, including the plebiscite mechanics, imposition of the gun and liquor bans, and other administrative prohibitions.