President Rodrigo Duterte has signed 18 Republic Acts mandating the creation of new barangays in Navotas City and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur, and the establishment of hatchery centers for marine species in Surigao del Sur, Quezon and Albay.
On Aug. 23, Duterte signed RA 10933, which divides Barangay North Bay Boulevard South in Navotas City into three distinct and independent barangays—Barangay NBBS Proper, Barangay NBBS Kaunlaran and Barangay NBBS Dagat-Dagatan;
RA 10934, dividing Barangay Tangos in Navotas City into two distinct and independent barangays—Barangay Tangos North and Barangay Tangos South;
RA 10935, dividing Barangay Tanza in Navotas City into two distinct and independent barangays—Barangay Tanza 1 and Tanza 2; and
RA 10936, creating Barangay Comawas in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
The local Commission on Elections shall conduct and supervise a plebiscite no later than 120 days from the effectivity of the new RAs, with the expenses to be borne out by their respective local governments.
Special elections should likewise be conducted within 60 days after the plebiscite, the new laws say.
Meanwhile, RAs 10937 to 10950 seeks to establish a multi-species marine hatchery in two municipalities and one city of Surigao del Sur, ten municipalities of Quezon and one in the City of Albay.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, after two years of the establishment of the marine sanctuaries, shall turn over these to the concerned local governments.
