By EARL O. CONDEZA
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY – This year’s barangay election in Davao del Sur will include the vote for or against the creation of a new province: Davao Occidental.
Atty. Febes Barlaan, provincial election supervisor of Davao del Sur, said that “there will be a plebiscite voting in the province, either yes or no for the creation of Davao Occidental”.
Journalists here got an early glimpse of the ballots in Davao del Sur when samples were shown during the Hermes Club press forum at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao. In them were a question on whether voters will favor or not the creation of the new province.
Republic Act 10360, which enacted the creation of the province of Davao Occidental, was passed by on November 28, 2012 and December 5, 2012 in the Senate.
The newly-created province will be composed of five municipalities from the second district of Davao del Sur: Malita, Sta. Maria, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, and Sarangani.
The Commission on Election also allowed “anyone (including government officials and employees) to campaign whether to vote yes or no on the creation of the new province”. Campaign period would last until October 26 only,
The Comelec would also observe the simple majority rule, or 50% +1 of the total number of votes cast.
When asked who will lead the soon to be created province, Atty. Barlaan said that “the current governor will lead the newly created province. It will be first in the history in the country that a governor will hold two provinces.” (Earl O. Condeza, davaotoday.com)
Davao Occidental, election 2013
