𝙱𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚔𝚎ñ𝚘𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙱𝚂𝙺𝙴2023

𝙱𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚔𝚎ñ𝚘𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚟𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙱𝚂𝙺𝙴2023 

By: Sophia Arellano and Dan Madrazo

 

Bulakeños went outside their homes to exercise their right to vote in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) 2023 on October 30, today.  

 

The polling stations nationwide officially opened to the public at 7 in the morning and closed at 3 in the afternoon.  

 

People lined up at each precinct in various barangays across the municipalities of Bulacan, like any other election. 

The determination of the voters to use their right for a democratic choice of new leaders in their barangay was as intense as the sun's rays. However, unlike previous elections, the Bulakeño voters not only signed ballots for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan. They also hold the fate of the San Joseños in the voting for the status of 'Highly Urbanized City' for San Jose Del Monte (SJDM). 

 

Vicky, a voter in Masukol, Paombong, shared, "Nagulat nga ako, dalawang papel binigay sa akin, hindi ko naman alam ano 'yung HUC pero nakita ko 'yung mga tarp sa labas ng bahay namin tungkol sa One Bulacan kaya nag-no na lang ako. Sabi kasi ng iba ay magandang mag-no." (I was surprised when they gave me two ballots; I did not know what HUC was, but I saw the banners outside our house about One Bulacan, so I decided to vote 'no.' Some people said it is a good choice.) 

 

Vicky's situation indicates that some if not many Bulakeños lacked knowledge about the plebiscite for SJDM-HUC.  

In some precincts, such as in the municipality of Paombong, overseeing teachers voluntarily explained the concept of HUC. However, in other municipalities, like Meycauayan and Marilao, voters had to inquire about the purpose of the plebiscite ballot. 

 

In Sta. Maria, as the number of voters increased, both youth and senior citizens also cast their votes. At Cornelia M. de Jesus Memorial Central School, an 80-year-old senior citizen named Marcos said that he did not experience any confusion or struggle with the addition of voting for the approval of HUC.  

 

He mentioned, "Hindi naman ako nahirapan, kahit nakapikit kaya..." (I did not have any trouble, even with my eyes closed...).  

 

But he later revealed that the location of his precinct was hard to find and that caused him trouble, "...yung sa cluster ang mahirap, by cluster, pinaakyat pa ako sa third floor kase nandon daw, sa dulong dulo." (The difficulty was with the cluster; they sent me to the third floor because it was at the very end. The confusion in cluster designation made it harder for him that at his age of 80, was surely difficult. 

 

The current count of the votes cast earlier in various precincts is still ongoing, and it is expected that the official winners will be announced after the completion of the vote count. According to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), there are 2.9 million registered voters in Bulacan. 

 

It is worth noting that COMELEC Chairman George Garcia stated that the proclaimed winners of each local council will immediately assume their positions. 

 

"Pagka-proclaim nila ngayong Oct. 30, kinabukasan dapat mag-a-assume na kaagad sila sa pwesto," (Once they proclaim it this October 30, by tomorrow they must immediately assume their position) Garcia said in a press briefing.