Camille Naredo

Parañaque City holds a plebiscite on boundary changes in five coastal barangays, July 25, 2026. Handout/COMELEC

Article (news)

COMELEC

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784949013876viber_image_2026-07-25_11-04-40-775.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Parañaque City holds a plebiscite on boundary changes in five coastal barangays, July 25, 2026. Handout/COMELEC"/>Parañaque City holds a plebiscite on boundary changes in five coastal barangays, July 25, 2026. Eon Sanchez, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA -- Residents of five coastal barangays in Parañaque City cast their votes on Saturday in a plebiscite to decide whether to ratify an ordinance that would alter the territorial boundaries of their villages adjoining the reclaimed areas in Manila Bay.The plebiscite covers Barangays Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, La Huerta, and San Dionisio, with a total of 79,250 registered voters eligible to participate.Voters are deciding on the ratification of City Ordinance No. 2023-19, which seeks to amend the existing territorial boundaries of the five coastal barangays by adopting the &quot;straight line policy&quot; in determining their new boundaries.Voting is being held in 10 voting centers, including one designated for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Parañaque City Jail in Barangay La Huerta.Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body does not expect a high turnout, noting that voter participation in plebiscites is traditionally lower compared to regular elections.“Inaasahan natin [na] hindi ganoon kadami kaagad ang botante. Plebesito kasi ito,” Garcia said.He, however, welcomed the early arrival of senior citizens who participated in the vote.“Pero natutuwa tayo dahil kahit paano, &#x27;yung mga senior citizen, sila naman &#x27;yung maaga talagang bumoto na nandiyan,” he said.Garcia said Comelec would already consider a 35-percent turnout a success.“Kapag more than 35 percent, bilib na talaga tayo sa mga taga-Parañaque kasi usually talaga, kapag ganitong plebesito, nag-a-average lang &#x27;yan sa 30 to 35 percent,” he said.He also acknowledged that the issue has drawn competing views among residents.“Medyo highly contested ito kasi merong nag-o-oppose as against doon sa gusto na hatiin itong lugar ng Aseana,” Garcia said.A total of 527 established precincts were clustered into 151 precincts across the voting centers. Election officials also opened early voting from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for vulnerable sectors before regular voting hours.Garcia said the Comelec expects canvassing to be completed before dawn on Sunday, and possibly even before midnight.“Mga hanggang bukas ng madaling araw. Hindi ito lalampas ng alas-tres ng umaga. Makakayanan natin ito kasi una, limang barangays [lang], and therefore, baka nga hanggang mamayang gabi, kaya na lahat &#x27;yan,” he said.“Basta hindi tayo aabutin ng 3 o’clock ng umaga. Makakapagdeclare na tayo kung ang nanalo ba ay &#x27;yung yes o nanalo ba &#x27;yung no,” he added. He stressed that the outcome will depend on which side receives more votes.“Kung ano ang may pinakamalaking boto sa yes or no, &#x27;yun ang idedeklara ng Comelec,” he said.Garcia also clarified that there is no minimum turnout required for the ordinance to be ratified.“Wala po tayong ceiling na pinag-uusapan. Iyan po &#x27;yung laging rule natin, whether special election, plebesito.”Regarding PDL voters at the Parañaque City Jail, Garcia added, “Sa persons deprived of liberty, meron tayong 108 na mga botante. So ibig sabihin, kahit pala mga nakakulong at wala pang final na desisyon ang korte ay puwedeng makaboto.”Among those who cast their ballots was Tambo resident Albert Tenorio, who said he voted because he believes the disputed area rightfully belongs to their barangay.“Bumuboto po ako dahil lehitimo po akong taga-Tambo at pinagbobotohan namin ngayon &#x27;yung jurisdiction ng part ng Baclaran kasi as for the history, talagang Tambo iyon,” he said.“Maliit pa akong bata, sa amin na &#x27;yan. &#x27;Yang part na &#x27;yan. So pangit naman kung kukunin ng ibang barangay,” he added.Meanwhile, 76-year-old voter Teresita Lachica said she believes the straight line policy is important in settling the boundaries of the affected barangays.“Itong plebesito ay mahalaga dahil sa ‘Straight Line Policy,” Lachica said. “Para iparating sa kanila, sa mga taga-Tambo, na ang ‘Straight Line Policy’ ay mahalaga para sa boundary katulad ng Tambo, ang boundary ng Don Galo, at saka Baclaran,” Lachica aded.dThe Plebiscite Board of Canvassers is scheduled to convene at 6 p.m. at the Parañaque City Coliseum in Barangay San Dionisio to canvass the plebiscite returns and proclaim the official results.

Residents of five coastal barangays in Parañaque City cast their votes on Saturday in a plebiscite to decide whether to ratify an ordinance that would alter the territorial boundaries of their villages adjoining the reclaimed areas in Manila Bay.

Residents of five coastal barangays in Parañaque City cast their votes on Saturday in a plebiscite to decide whether to ratify an ordinance that would alter the territorial boundaries of their villages adjoining the reclaimed areas in Manila Bay.

Parañaque holds plebiscite on boundary changes in 5 coastal barangays

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Parañaque holds plebiscite on boundary changes in 5 coastal barangays

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 25, 2026 11:29 AM PHT

Read More:

COMELEC

Straight Line Policy

Parañaque City

Tambo

Baclaran

Don Galo

La Huerta

San Dionisio

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