MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the request of Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to hold the plebiscite on the city’s conversion into a highly urbanized city (HUC) simultaneously with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Nov. 2.

In Minute Resolution No. 26-0526, the Comelec en banc adopted the recommendation of Deputy Executive Director for Operations Rafael Olaño and approved Robredo’s request, which was submitted on June 25.

“The Commission, after due deliberation, resolved, as it hereby resolves, to adopt the recommendation of Deputy Executive Director for Operations Rafael Olaño and approve the request of Hon. Mayor Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo of Naga City that the plebiscite for the ratification of Presidential Proclamation No. 1267 be synchronized with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to be held on 2 November 2026,” the resolution read.

The poll body also clarified that only registered voters of Naga City will be allowed to participate in the plebiscite because the city is an independent component city.

“Resolved, further, that considering that Naga City is an independent component city, only the registered votes of Naga City shall be entitled to vote in the plebiscite for the ratification of Presidential Proclamation No. 1267,” it added.

Section 453 of the Local Government Code of 1991 requires a plebiscite to ratify a presidential proclamation converting a city into a highly urbanized city, as provided under Article 12(b) of Administrative Order No. 270.

Robredo, who personally received the approved resolution at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila on Friday, said synchronizing the plebiscite with the BSKE would significantly reduce government spending.

“If it will be held separately, we estimate that the cost will double… if held separately, our rough estimate is about PHP50 million,” Robredo said in an interview.

According to the Comelec, Naga City has 119,259 registered voters eligible to participate in the Nov. 2 plebiscite.PNA