THE plebiscite on the possible division of Palawan into three separate provinces is set to be held in March, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In its Resolution No. 10687, the Comelec en banc said the event will now be held from 7 am to 3 pm on March 13, 2021.
This after it got the go-ahead from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to proceed with the plebiscite originally set on October 8, 2020.
“The plebiscite shall be held in 23 municipalities of the Province of Palawan, except Puerto Princesa City,” Comelec said in the 56-paged issuance.
The plebiscite was supposed to be held on May 11, 2020, but was deferred by the poll body due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the implementation of community quarantine.
Single question
On the day of the plebiscite, people will be asked a single question: “Pumapayag ka bang hatiin ang probinsya ng Palawan sa tatlong probinsyang papangalanang Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, at Palawan del Sur alinsunod sa Batas Republika Bilang 11259 (Are you in favor of dividing the province of Palawan into three province, which will be named Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur in accordance to Republic Act 11259).”
It will be answerable with Oo (yes) or Hindi (no).
Comelec will conduct an information campaign for the activity from February 11 to March 11.
It noted the campaign should be held online, televised, or radio-aired in default, but it may still be through face-to-face interactions provided minimum health standards will be strictly implemented in such activities.
In preparation for the event, Comelec declared February 11 to March 20, 2021 as Plebiscite period. The following activities will be prohibited at this time: alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; bearing, carrying, or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, unless authorized in writing by the Commission.
Also not allowed are the transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service; organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces or similar forces; and suspension of local elective officials; and illegal release of prisoners.
Image credits: Mikhail Davidovich | Dreamstime.com
5 comments
To divide Palawan in 4 (3 provinces and 1 city) is a very bad project:
1/ to have 2 additional administration is costly. That will be 3 governors and 2 staffs. That will be several buildings to build in the 3 provincial capitals. That will be national administrations obliged to split their services in 3… Who will pay for that? From where will come the needed cash? We con forecast that part of it will come from the budget of the social services needed by the population. What will not be taken from the social services will come from the National government and will increase its deficit
2/ The 2 new provinces in the North will have less than 250,000 inhabitants while this number is the requirement fixed by the law to create a new province. These 2 provinces are not populated enough and should not be created.
3/ Palawan South will have a mixed composition (Muslims, Christians and IPs). Within 1 generation, if not earlier, Cristians will be a minority. On that time, the Bangsamiro entity will claim Palawan South. The risk is real, they tried already twice, once before the creation of the ARMM, once before the creation of the Bangsamoro entity. We have to remember that Palawan was part of the sultanate of Sulu before the Spanish time. Most of us ignore it but them, not.
3/ Puerto Princesa will be the only city outside Metro Manila that will be outside a province. Their residents are not authorized to vote in the plebiscite. This is unfair and unconstitutional.
4/ To spend 150,000 pesos for the plebiscite is an insult to the thousand of peoples that lost their job and need cash.
5/ To organize a plebiscite before that the covid vaccine is available will spread the virus in Palawan.
Please, vote “NO” and convince everybody to vote “NO”.
We know Palawan is the greatest province of the Philippines. There are other ways to solve the size problem:
1/ To transfer some services (and the needed budget) from the province to the municipalities.
2/ To create a new province of Palawan North with all the municipalities North of Puerto Princesa. This province will have roughly 450,000 inhabitants and its capital can be Taytay that was the first capital during the Spanish time. In the South, Puerto Princesa will stay inside Palawan del South, even if like all the big cities is administratively distinct of the rest of the province.
In short, to split Palawan in 4 will affect the social services needed by the population, will increase the deficit of the National government and could lead to the transfer of Palawan South to the Bangsamoro area.
Please spread this analysis on the internet and in the press. We need the help of everybody to save Palawan.
“3/ Puerto Princesa will be the only city outside Metro Manila that will be outside a province. Their residents are not authorized to vote in the plebiscite. This is unfair and unconstitutional.”
Sir, it is fair that Puerto Princesa will not vote the plebiscite since they decided to separate from Palawan province long time ago. Puerto Princesa is not the only city outside Metro Manila that will be outside a province. We have Cebu City, Bacolod City, etc., these cities were once part of the province but decided to become HUC which made them separate from province.
Please vote “YES” for splitting Palawan province.
1. Government agencies will be closer to the people. For example: LTO.
2. Each province will have new provincial hospitals. If this happens, north and south people will no longer travel 5 hours or more.
3. The new provinces have its own budget and have ability to provide for its people.
what the use to ask people as duterte sign a law on april 5 2020 to split Palawan in 3, regardless of what people think!
95% OF PALAWENO VOTES YES. BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS FAIR AND JUST TREATMENT. BUONG PALAWAN DAPAT UMASENSO NA. YUN MGA NAGPUPUSH NG NO MGA GAHAMAN LANG YAN, UGALI NA TALAGA YAN NILA ATTY ANDA, NA WALA NA GINAWA KUNDI SIRAIN ANG GOBYERNO, LAHAT KOKONTRAHIN BASTA PAGKAKAPERAHAN. WAG KAMI KILALA NA NAMIN STYLE MO BULOK!