TABUK CITY, Kalinga – President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed into law two bills authored by Rep. Alen Jesse C. Mangaoang that created two additional barangays in the component city.
Republic Act (RA) 11343 created barangay Ipil while RA 11344 also created barangay Bulanao Norte both in the city.
Under both bills, barangays Ipil and Bulanao Norte shall be entitled to Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) pursuant to Section 285 of Republic Act (RA) 716 otherwise known was the local government code as amended.
The two laws stated that the plebiscite conducted and supervised by the Commission on elections (Comelec) on December 21, 2002 in barangay Bulanao pursuant to Ordinance No. 2002-02 which ratified the creation of barangays Ipil and Bulanao Norte shall serve as substantial compliance with the plebiscite requirement under Section 10 of RA 7160.
Both laws stipulated that the incumbent barangay officials of the said barangays shall continue to hold office until such time that their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Further, all public infrastructure and facilities for public use existing at the time of the approval of the laws will be transferred without cost or compensation to and shall be administered by the new barangays.
The two laws will take effect 15 days after their publication in a newspaper of general circulation for the information of all concerned parties.
Earlier, President Duterte signed into law RA 1132 which created barangay Lacnog West in this city wherein the deadline for the conduct of a plebiscite for the ratification of the said law is slated on September 30, 21.
Concerned barangay officials and residents of the proposed barangay had been constantly lobbying to the city government to provide the P3.9 million funding requirement computed by the Comelec for the conduct of the plebiscite but the same seems to have fallen in deaf ears that might compromise the creation of the city’s newest barangay.
RA 11328 was signed into law on April 17, 219 wherein the same was published on May 30, 2019 in newspaper of general circulation, thus, the 120-day period for the Comelec to conduct the plebiscite for the ratification of the law creating barangay Lacnog West will lapse on September 3, 201.
Mangaoang expressed his gratitude to the Chief Executive for signing into law the 3 bills that he authored creating the additional barangays of the city considering the rapid growth in the city’s population because Tabuk city is emerging as one of the identified growth centers in the region due to its available land area that could accommodate expansion of businesses and government offices.
On the other hand, the two-term lawmaker is keeping his fingers crossed that the local government will be able to source out the needed funds to bankroll the conduct of the plebiscite for the ratification of the law creating barangay Lacnog West so that their efforts in pushing for the law will not go to waste.
By HENT
