For Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, the residents of the 10 Enlisted Men’s Barrio (EMBO) barangays that are now part of the City of Taguig should be given the right to vote for their congressional representative in the upcoming 2025 local elections.
To address this, he introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23 on Monday which calls for the EMBO residents to exercise their voting rights and gain representation in Congress as part of a legislative district.
“All residents of Taguig have the right to equal representation and those qualified have the fundamental right to exercise their right to suffrage,” Cayetano said in the concurrent resolution dated September 23, 2024.
The resolution aims to address the issue faced by the EMBO barangays, which collectively comprise an additional 336,873 residents in the City of Taguig, of not being included in the current legislative districts of the City of Taguig and the Municipality of Pateros.
This situation has raised uncertainties about the EMBO residents’ voting rights and representation. Concerns have emerged regarding their ability to vote for a congressional representative and if they will be categorized under the Taguig-Pateros First District or Taguig’s Second District, jeopardizing their constitutional rights.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23
“Ang sabi ng Comelec (Commission on Elections), walang problema, makakaboto kayo sa council, mayor, vice mayor, pero hindi kayo makakaboto sa congressman. Doon lumitaw ang problema,” Cayetano explained during a barangay and city-level officials meeting two weeks ago.
As a possible solution to the problem, the senator filed this concurrent resolution in support of Taguig City Ordinance No. 144, which aims to include and distribute the 10 EMBO barangays in the existing two legislative districts and increase the number of councilors per district from eight to twelve.
A concurrent resolution requires passage by both legislative houses without needing the President’s signature.
Its counterpart in the House of Representatives, House Concurrent Resolution No. 37, with comparable provisions in the Senate version, was filed on September 18 by Taguig-Pateros Representative Ricardo ‘Ading’ Cruz Jr.
Under this resolution, the first district will encompass Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal, while the second district will include Cembo, South Cembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside.
Cayetano emphasized the importance of ensuring that EMBO residents can exercise their voting rights and have a voice in government decisions.
As the filing of candidacies for the 2025 elections begins on October 1, 2024, the senator also urged all Taguigeños to actively participate in shaping the future of their city.
“Let’s make sure of three things: one, that every single Taguigeño can buy into a vision for Taguig; second, that people can vote; and third, that people can run [for office],” he said.
