A plebiscite was held in the province of Bulacan, Philippines, on October 30, 2023, to determine whether San Jose del Monte should be converted into a highly urbanized city. Had the measure been approved, San Jose del Monte would have become politically, fiscally, and administratively independent of Bulacan; if rejected, the city would remain a component city of the province.

The city government supported the proposal, while the provincial government neither supported nor opposed it. The measure was ultimately rejected, with a narrow majority of voters in San Jose del Monte itself voting against the conversion.

The plebiscite was held concurrently with the 2023 Philippine barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, meaning voters in Bulacan could receive up to three ballots.

Background

San Jose del Monte became a component city of the province of Bulacan on September 10, 2000 through Republic Act No. 8797 which was authored by Angelito Sarmiento, the representative of its 4th congressional district at the time. The city later represented itself as a lone congressional district on December 18, 2003.

On December 6, 2020, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 1057, proclaiming San Jose del Monte as a highly-urbanized city. The proclamation came after the city's Sangguniang Panglungsod passed Resolution No. 2019-059-09, requesting the President to proclaim the city as such due to meeting the requirements of having "a minimum population of 200,000 as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority and an income of at least P50 million as certified by the City Treasurer". The proclamation would take effect after ratification in a plebiscite.

Preparations Scheduling The plebiscite was supposed to be held four months after the 2022 national and local elections, but it was overdue. On September 11, 2023, the COMELEC scheduled the plebiscite on October 30, synchronizing with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Questions The ballot question is as follows:

In Filipino:

English translation:

Do you agree to the City of San Jose del Monte, Province of Bulacan becoming a 'Highly-Urbanized City' pursuant to Proclamation No. 1057 which became law on December 4, 2020? Voters were opted to write "yes" or "" if they agree, or "no" or " if they oppose the proposal.

Campaign The San Jose del Monte government kickstarted its 'Yes' campaign on September 9, 2023 with the Tanglawan Festival. According to Representative Rida Robes, the city "desperately needs" its highly-urbanized city status, and if it stayed being a component city, it would have a small source of funds for service to its people. The League of Municipalities of the Philippines' Bulacan chapter pledged its support through a manifesto. All six members of the House of Representatives from Bulacan supported the proposal. The National Movement of Young Legislators Bulacan Chapter was also for the proposal. The Iglesia ni Cristo backed the proposal, as well.

However, the city's 2nd district councilor Romeo Agapito said that the city was not yet ready for the status, citing higher taxes, unemployment and aid from the provincial capitol becoming limited if it did become a highly urbanized city. The provincial chapter of the Liga ng mga Barangay was against the proposal. Two previous governors of Bulacan, Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Roberto Pagdanganan, opposed the conversion. The current governor, Daniel Fernando, remarked that "no father is happy when he sees his child leave," but left the choice to the people.

Results The majority of voters rejected the conversion, as declared by COMELEC two days after the plebiscite, while a tenth of those who participated in the conduct did not vote, leaving blank ballots.

COMELEC explained that the involvement of the entire Bulacan in the plebiscite is due to a Supreme Court ruling on a similar case in Nueva Ecija, G.R. No. 203974: Umali v. COMELEC. Unlike before, when only the city itself could participate in such cases, the decision indicated that all residents affected by the change of constituency in such an entity should be consulted.

Per city/municipality Results per city/municipality City/municipality Yes / Oo No / Hindi Valid votes Invalid votes Turnout Registered voters Total % Total % Total % Total % Total % Angat 10,359 32.81 21,211 67.19 31,570 89.37 3,756 10.63 35,326 80.72 43,762 Balagtas 13,010 35.85 23,280 64.15 36,290 89.66 4,187 10.34 40,477 71.01 57,001 Baliwag 35,489 45.23 42,969 54.77 78,548 90.18 8,547 9.82 87,005 78.13 111,356 Bocaue 26,423 48.93 27,575 51.07 53,998 90.63 5,580 9.37 59,578 74.31 80,171 Bulakan 11,848 32.06 25,113 67.94 36,961 88.34 4,880 11.66 41,841 75.66 55,304 Bustos 16,504 47.22 18,449 52.78 34,953 88.89 4,367 11.11 39,320 77.99 50,416 Calumpit 18,464 35.86 33,025 64.14 51,489 89.36 6,132 10.64 57,621 79.49 72,489 Doña Remedios Trinidad 6,053 36.93 10,337 63.07 16,390 84.13 3,091 15.87 19,841 75.99 25,636 Guiguinto 21,050 42.03 29,029 57.97 50,079 88.59 6,452 11.41 56,531 73.53 76,884 Hagonoy 16,421 29.22 39,773 70.78 56,194 88.23 7,497 11.77 63,691 74.95 84,983 Malolos 33,633 36.82 57,712 63.18 91,345 92.27 8,195 8.28 99,000 75.70 130,785 Marilao 41,631 55.35 33,579 44.65 75,210 91.41 7,069 8.59 82,279 74.87 109,899 Meycauayan 61,214 69.75 26,554 30.25 87,768 89.83 9,924 10.16 97,702 73.94 132,144 Norzagaray 13,904 24.48 42,892 75.52 56,796 92.10 4,782 7.75 61,668 76.87 80,228 Obando 10,420 46.09 12,190 53.91 22,610 88.20 3,026 11.80 25,636 70.81 36,202 Pandi 31,530 47.98 34,188 52.02 65,718 88.38 8,641 11.62 74,359 79.71 93,282 Paombong 8,645 32.08 18,304 67.92 26,949 88.42 3,528 11.58 30,477 78.44 38,856 Plaridel 17,739 38.23 28,658 61.77 46,397 87.79 6,450 12.21 52,847 73.82 71,585 Pulilan 17,944 38.86 28,231 61.14 46,175 86.59 7,151 13.41 53,326 78.45 67,978 San Ildefonso 24,372 41.44 34,447 58.56 58,519 87.01 8,781 12.99 67,600 85.28 79,267 San Jose del Monte 92,714 48.68 97,754 51.32 190,468 95.31 9,381 4.69 199,849 72.08 277,274 San Miguel 31,853 43.27 41,769 56.73 73,622 79.85 18,577 20.15 92,199 88.61 104,056 San Rafael 16,394 33.97 31,861 66.03 48,255 87.52 6,878 12.48 55,133 81.94 67,286 Santa Maria 43,093 41.29 61,285 58.71 104,378 90.72 10,680 9.28 115,058 76.56 150,289 Bulacan 620,707 43.07 820,385 56.93 1,441,092 89.62 166,912 10.38 1,608,004 76.86 2,092,048

Per legislative district For purposes of representation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, Bulacan is divided into seven congressional districts, the 1st to 6th congressional districts of Bulacan, and San Jose del Monte's district.

For purposes of representation in the Bulacan Provincial Board, it is identical to congressional districts, except that San Jose del Monte is not treated separately but is instead included in the 4th provincial board district. Results per congressional district District Yes No Valid votesTotal%Total% Bulacan's 1st district 106,955 34.60 202,158 65.40 309,113 Bulacan's 2nd district 69,732 43.63 90,076 56.37 159,808 Bulacan's 3rd district 78,672 39.92 118,414 60.08 197,086 Bulacan's 4th district 113,265 61.03 72,323 38.97 185,588 Bulacan's 5th district 92,013 44.65 114,072 55.35 206,085 Bulacan's 6th district 67,356 34.95 125,388 65.05 192,744 San Jose del Monte's lone district 92,714 48.68 97,754 51.32 190,468 Bulacan 620,707 43.07 820,385 56.93 1,441,092 +Results per provincial board district District Yes No Valid votesTotal%Total% 1st district 106,955 34.60 202,158 65.40 309,113 2nd district 69,732 43.63 90,076 56.37 159,808 3rd district 78,672 39.92 118,414 60.08 197,086 4th district 205,979 54.77 170,077 45.23 376,056 5th district 92,013 44.65 114,072 55.35 206,085 6th district 67,356 34.95 125,388 65.05 192,744 Bulacan 620,707 43.07 820,385 56.93 1,441,092

Notes

References

External links Proclamation No. 1057, Conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan into a Highly-Urbanized City COMELEC Resolution No. 10948, Resolution adapting the Calendar of Activities and Periods of Certain Prohibited Acts in connection with the October 30, 2023 BSKE under Resolution No. 10905 as the Calendar of Activities for the purpose of Plebiscite to Ratify the Conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan into a Highly-Urbanized City pursuant to Proclamation No. 1057