The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday, Aug. 21, that it has approved the recommendation of the Law Department that the disputed barangays in Makati City be considered as part of Taguig City.
Based on Memorandum No. 230806 dated Aug. 19 released by the poll body, this will be for the purpose of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023.
"Resolved, further, to approve the following recommendatory actions on the commission's preparation for the implementation of the administrative transfer of the 10 barangays in Makati City to Taguig City," the memorandum read.
Comelec directed the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) to provide the Information and Technology Department (ITD) with an updated coding system for the barangays in Makati's 2nd District and Taguig City and reallocate BSKE forms and supplies based on the new electoral data.
The ITD was also told to provide Makati City's 2nd District with a new database with server and to effect changes in precincts and database with server.
Next, the Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) was asked to prepare a detailed procedure of the administrative transfer including the preparation of new Project of Precinct (POP) for the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) of Makati City's 2nd District and OEO of Taguig City.
Comelec also directed its Administrative Services Department to provide and assist in the hauling of computers and other equipment from the OEO of Makati City's 2nd District and Taguig City to reallocate the forms and supplies from Makati City's 2nd District and Taguig City.
The poll body ordered the Education and Information Department to conduct a focused information dissemination and other related public information in coordination with the OEO Makati City (2nd District) and OEO Taguig City.
Comelec's Finance Services Department has been instructed to allocate budgetary funding for costs that may be incurred in the transfer of the said voters, if any, subject to appropriate audit rules and regulations and subject further, to the availability of funds.
Lastly, the Printing Committee has been directed to print ballots for the 10 barangays transferred from Makati City (2nd District) to Taguig City.
Reprinting of ballots
Meanwhile, on Monday (Aug. 21), Comelec has begun reprinting 1.7 million BSKE ballots which consist of 1,317,483 for barangay and 461,434 for SK as a result of the series of plebiscites it conducted throughout the year and in 2022.
It will be reprinting 111,356 barangay and 35,178 for SK ballots for the new city of Baliwag, Bulacan.
Comelec will also be reprinting 58,196 barangay and 18,157 SK ballots for the new city of Carmona, Cavite.
The poll body will also be reprinting 497,153 barangay and 181,030 SK ballots while 422,629 barangay and 158,813 SK ballots for the new provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur respectively.
Lastly, Comelec will be reprinting 228,149 barangay and 67,716 SK ballots for 10 new barangays in Taguig City namely Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, Rizal, South Cembo, and West Rembo.