MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hold a plebiscite in five barangays in Parañaque City on July 25, 2026 in line with a ratification of a city ordinance in changing the territorial boundaries of the said coastal barangays.
According to Comelec, the City of Parañaque passed Ordinance No. 2023-19 series of 2022 on July 13, 2023 titled “An Ordinance Altering the Existing Territorial Boundaries of Five Coastal Barangays Within the Territorial Jurisdiction of the City of Parañaque Adjoining the Reclaimed Areas in Manila Bay, Namely: Barangay Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, La Huerta, and San Dionisio, Adopting for This Purpose the Straight Line Policy in the Determination of Amended Boundaries Thereof.”
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The Comelec noted that the residents may answer “Yes/Oo” if they agree with the ratification and “No/Hindi” if they do not.
With this, the poll body has set the plebiscite period from June 25, 2026 to August 1, 2026. During this period, a gun ban will be implemented over the five barangays.
Carrying or transporting of firearms is not allowed without Certificate of Authority or gun ban exemption from the Comelec’s Gun Ban and Security Concerns Committee.
Aside from the gun ban, the following acts are also prohibited during the plebiscite period:
- Alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct
- Suspension of elective local officials
- Transfer or detail of officers and employees in the Civil Service
- Organization of maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces, or other similar forces
- Illegal release of prisoners
The campaign period is scheduled from July 4, 2026 to July 23, 2026 where barangay assemblies will be held. Removing, destroying, obliterating, defacing, tampering or preventing the distribution of lawful plebiscite propaganda are not allowed.
During the eve of plebiscite day, the poll body will impose a liquor ban and prohibit campaigning, and giving and accepting free food and transportation.
During the plebiscite day, the following activities must not be observed:
- Campaigning
- Giving and accepting free transportation, food, drinks, and things of value
- Selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving or taking intoxicating liquor
- Carrying deadly weapons in the polling place
- Soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against a “YES” or a “NO” vote within the polling place or within a radius of 30 meters thereof
- Opening of booths or stalls for the sale of merchandise, refreshments within 30 meters from the polling place
- Holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races or similar sports
Casting of votes will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. while the counting of votes will commence from 3 p.m. onwards. The canvassing of votes and proclamation of plebiscite results will be held from 5 p.m. onwards. /mr
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