Voters back boundary changes in 5 Parañaque barangays

<p>Voters on Saturday approved an ordinance adjusting the territorial boundaries of five barangays in Para aque City, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).</p><p>Comelec said City Ordinance No. 2023-19 was approved after receiving 11,597 "yes" votes against 2,254 "no" votes in the plebiscite.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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%.</p><p>The turnout fell short of the <a href="https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/996133/comelec-chief-garcia-eyes-25-turnout-in-para-aque-plebiscite/story/" target="_blank">25% voter participation rate</a> earlier hoped for by Comelec Chairperson George Garcia.</p><p>"[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.</p><p>Garcia had earlier said that the outcome of the plebiscite would be determined by a plurality of votes, rather than a simple majority. - <strong>VBL GMA News</strong></p>