Question & AnswerQ&A (PROCLAMATION NO. 1247)
The legal basis is Section 452 of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, which sets the population and income requirements for classification as highly-urbanized cities.
A city must have a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority and an annual income of at least PhP 50 million based on 1991 constant prices, as certified by the City Treasurer.
The President of the Republic of the Philippines has the authority to declare a city as highly-urbanized upon meeting the requirements.
Within 120 days after the declaration, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct a plebiscite in the city, where qualified voters must ratify the declaration.
COMELEC must conduct a comprehensive information campaign prior to the plebiscite and then hold the plebiscite for ratification by qualified voters in the city.
The duty arises within 30 days after the city has met the minimum requirements prescribed in Section 452 of RA No. 7160 and upon proper application.
No, it takes effect only upon ratification in a plebiscite by the qualified voters in the city, as provided in Section 453 of RA No. 7160.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod may request the President to declare the city as highly-urbanized, as exemplified by Resolution No. 2020-0586 from Pagadian City.
Pagadian presented a population of 210,452 persons certified by the PSA and an income of PhP 270.774 million based on 1991 constant prices certified by the Department of Finance - Bureau of Local Government Finance.
The government supports initiatives of local governments to become self-reliant communities and effective partners in achieving national goals.