Malabon plebiscite on cityhood slated today

Some 168,000 voting residents of Malabon troop to the polls today to ratify the cityhood bid of this premier fishing town.

Top government officials led by the author of Malabon’s cityhood, re-electionist Rep. Federico Sandoval II and Mayor Amado Vicencio are pushing for a yes-vote or the conversation of the municipality into a city.

Sandoval, congressional bet of the People Power Coalition (PPC) for the lone district of Malabon-Navotas, said they would need only a simple majority (50 percent plus one) of the actual number of vote to ratify RA 9019 creating the city of Malabon.

The cityhood bill authored by Sandoval was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last March 5.

Sandoval also appealed to the voters not to be dissuaded by inaccurate reports about more taxes to be imposed on them.

"It is not true as reported by our critics that cityhood will mean more taxes. This is misleading. There is a five-year moratorium on the payment of taxes," Sandoval said.

The lawmaker also dismissed allegations of wrong timing because of the current preoccupation with the coming May 14 elections.

"Why? Even those in the opposite camps also want Malabon to become a city. So, this is not about politics. This is about progress. So, let’s be one in this together," Sandoval pleaded.

Vicencio also urged his constituents to be united and vote "yes" for the full realization of the town’s cityhood.

He said that with Malabon’s cityhood, its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national government will increase by 160 percent. He said this will translate into more funds for infrastructure needed by Malabon.