The “no” votes won in the recently concluded Palawan plebiscite, with majority of its residents rejecting the bid split the province into three, the Commission on Elections said Tuesday night.
Based on Comelec’s last count of the votes cast in 22 out of the province’s 23 municipalities, the Provincial Board of Canvassers declared that the “no” votes won, with 172,304 votes against the 122,223 “yes” votes.
“Its final. The proposed division of Palawan province into three, based on a 2019 law has been rejected,” the poll body said.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez earlier declared the weekend plebiscite a success with the 60 percent turnout of voters despite the pandemic.
“For the most part, people expected this to be a low turnout event. But again, the reality on the ground proved everyone otherwise,” he said.
Gov. Jose Alvarez earlier conceded defeat in his push to see Palawan divided into 3 new provinces.
The plebiscite sought to ratify Republic Act No. 11259 dividing Palawan into Palawan Del Norte, Palawan Del Sur and Palawan Oriental.
A lot is at stake in the proposed division of the biggest province in the country in terms of land area at nearly 15,000 square kilometers.
Proponents of the division say it will shatter the traditional center-periphery development pattern where everything emanates from the capitol in Puerto Princesa.
Breaking down the province would mean three provincial governments, each with its own Internal Revenue Allotment, set of leaders, and a seat of government that is more accessible to the municipalities.
Those who oppose the division say the reduction claim it will make them more vulnerable to external security threats and exploitation by private firms interested in the area’s vast mineral and other natural resources.