Voters back boundary changes in 5 Parañaque barangays

Voters on Saturday approved an ordinance adjusting the territorial boundaries of five barangays in Parañaque City, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec said City Ordinance No. 2023-19 was approved after receiving 11,597 "yes" votes against 2,254 "no" votes in the plebiscite.

The plebiscite was held to determine whether residents supported adjusting and expanding the territorial boundaries of Barangays Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, La Huerta, and San Dionisio.

City Ordinance No. 2023-19 adopts a straight-line boundary method to divide and allocate reclaimed lands along Manila Bay among the five coastal barangays, expanding their respective territorial boundaries.

In a document released by Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco, the poll body said 13,873 of the 79,251 registered voters cast their ballots in the plebiscite, translating to a voter turnout of 17.5%.

The turnout fell short of the 25% voter participation rate earlier hoped for by Comelec Chairperson George Garcia.

"[This was] the fastest plebiscite canvassing on record, with the Certificate of Canvass and Proclamation being issued and promulgated within six hours from the close of polls," Laudiangco said in a message to reporters.

Garcia had earlier said that the outcome of the plebiscite would be determined by a plurality of votes, rather than a simple majority. —VBL, GMA News