Bulacan’s young local legislators back San Jose del Monte's conversion into highly urbanized city

A group of young local legislators in the province of Bulacan have expressed support for the conversion of San Jose del Monte (SJDM) into a highly urbanized city. 

Members of the National Movement of Young Legislators Bulacan Chapter have signed a manifesto to express their support for the SJDM's possible transition to a highly urbanized city.

"Kaming mga halal na opisyal ng National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL)-Bulacan Chapter ay nagkakaisa at buong tibay na sumusuporta sa Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte Bulacan bilang isang highly urbanized city (HUC) sa lalawigan ng Bulacan," the manifesto read. 

(We, the elected officials of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL)-Bulacan Chapter, stand together and fully support the conversion of the City of San Jose del Monte into a highly urbanized city in the province of Bulacan.)

The young legislators cited Section 452 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, which provides that 'cities with a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority and with the latest annual income of at least P50 million based on 1992 constant prices, as certified by the Treasurer, shall be classified as highly urbanized cities.

Marie Niña Nikkie Perez, a councilor of Bustos, Bulacan, was among the signatories of the manifesto. 

Perez serves as the chairperson of the NMYL Bulacan Chapter. 

The manifesto was also signed by Vice Chairperson Mikee Jane Gonda, Secretary Krizia Jewel Silverio, Assistant Secretary Rolando Peralta Jr., Treasurer Paulo Mari de Jesus, Assistant Treasurer Aron Ronald Cruz, Auditor Ryan Christian Sagala, Public Relations Officer Judith Bartolome-Paombong, and Board of Directors Michael Darwin Cruz, Phillip Santos, Jaime Viceo, Gian Carlo Valencia, Victorino Aldaba III, Mary Del Jasa, and Alvin Paul Cotaco. 

Earlier, a total of 23 Bulacan city and municipality mayors expressed their support for the city's conversion into a highly urbanized city.

Meanwhile, all duly registered and qualified voters in Bulacan for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections are eligible to vote in the plebiscite on October 30. 

The National Printing Office said a total of 2,092,147 official ballots have been printed for the plebiscite. —VBL, GMA Integrated News