Palawan rejects division of province

MANILA, Philippines — The law dividing Palawan into three provinces was rejected in a plebiscite held on Saturday.

The provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) proclaimed yesterday the rejection of the proposed division of the province under Republic Act 11259.

The PBOC said 172,304 voted against the law, including residents of Brooke’s Point, Roxas and Taytay. The three towns would have been designated as the seats of government of the proposed Palawan del Sur, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Norte, respectively.

The municipalities of Narra, El Nido, Aborlan, Araceli, Busuanga and Cuyo were among those that voted overwhelmingly to reject the division of the province.

At least 122,223 voted yes, mostly from the towns of Bataraza, Cagayancillo, Culion and Rizal.

The certificates of canvass from Kalayaan Islands, with 281 votes, were not tabulated as they had not yet reached the canvassing center due to transportation problems.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said turnout was 60.06 percent  of 238,972 registered voters, based on canvassing of results from 22 of the 23 towns.

“The people of Palawan have spoken loud and clear,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

He said those who opposed the division of Palawan filed a motion to terminate the canvassing “in view of the insurmountability of the lead enjoyed by the no votes.”

Jimenez said the proponents have joined the motion of the opponents.

Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez, who led the proponents of the measure, conceded defeat ahead of the canvassing of votes.

Alvarez claimed the rejection was a loss not for the provincial government but for residents of the province.

The poll body had earlier said the Palawan plebiscite would be a test run of the health protocols to be implemented in the 2022 elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.