Question & AnswerQ&A (PROCLAMATION NO. 418)
The city must have a minimum population of two hundred thousand (200,000) inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics Office.
The city must have a latest income of at least Fifty Million Pesos (P 50,000,000.00) based on 1991 constant prices, as certified by the City Treasurer.
It is the duty of the President of the Philippines to declare a city as highly-urbanized upon meeting the minimum requirements and proper application.
The interested city must submit a resolution of its Sanggunian endorsed by the city mayor to the Office of the President, accompanied by certifications of income and population.
The President must declare the city as highly-urbanized within thirty (30) days from receipt of the resolution, after verifying the requirements.
Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the declaration, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct a plebiscite in the city to ratify the conversion.
The plebiscite allows the qualified voters of the city to ratify or reject the conversion to a highly-urbanized city.
A comprehensive information campaign must be conducted by COMELEC with the help of national and local government officials, media, NGOs, and other interested parties.
The proclamation takes effect only upon ratification in a plebiscite by qualified voters, as provided in Section 453 of the Local Government Code.
The government supports local governments' initiatives to attain self-reliance and become effective partners in national development goals.