BACOLOD CITY – The plebiscite for the creation of Barangay Paglaum will not push through next month because the Commission on Elections (Comelec) no longer have time to hold it this year amid preparations for the May 2013 elections.

City Election Registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia said in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Bacolod over the weekend the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations (ODEDO) sent to their office a faxed copy of the Comelec en banc resolution stating that it is no longer possible to conduct a plebiscite on Dec. 15.

“At this time,  the Comelec is already very busy with the preparations for the May 2013 elections,” she said.

Sia added the resolution also states that all requests for a plebiscite nationwide will no longer be entertained.

If ever a plebiscite will be held, it will be scheduled after the May 2013 elections, she said.

Sia said that she will send a letter to Gemeno Emballa, one of the convenors of the Movement for Effective and Efficient Barangay Governance, the group pushing for the creation of Barangay Paglaum, to inform him about the Comelec resolution.

An ordinance amending the provisions of City Ordinance 37, series of 1987 creates the Barangay Paglaum.

Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the committee on laws, ordinances and good government, had earlier said the ordinance is the result of the public hearings based on the request of the petitioners from Paglaum Village.

The city government has allocated P3 million for the conduct of a plebiscite based on the cost provided by the ODEDO.

Paglaum Village, with a population of about 8,000, is currently part of Barangay Mansilingan, which has 42,000 residents.

The proposed Barangay Paglaum will be composed of Paglaum Village,            Sitio Buri, Haciendas Guanzon, Hojilla, Tanalgo and Miranda, Green Farm, Nieves, De Leon, Garcia, Fortaleza, Martir, Cuison, De Leon, Arceo-Ramos, and

Montinola and Mabesa Subdivision.*NLG