Conversion of Antipolo to Highly-Urbanized City

Section 452 of the Local Government Code (Republic Act No. 7160) provides the qualification standards for cities to be classified as highly-urbanized cities.
A city qualifies as highly-urbanized when it has a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants, as certified by the National Statistics Office, and an latest annual income of at least PHP 50,000,000 based on 1991 constant prices, as certified by the City Treasurer’s Office.
Section 453 of the Local Government Code imposes a duty on the President to declare a city highly-urbanized within thirty (30) days after it meets the Section 452 requirements, upon proper application.
The procedure for conversion includes a city resolution submission, presidential declaration after verification, and a plebiscite conducted by COMELEC.

Government policy supports local government initiatives to attain fullest development as self-reliant communities and to make them more effective partners in attaining national goals.
The proclamation is framed to implement that policy by enabling Antipolo’s advancement through conversion to a highly-urbanized city.

The population of the City of Antipolo is stated as 633,971 inhabitants, based on the 2007 Census of Population with August 1, 2007 as the reference date, as certified by the Administrator, National Statistics Office.
The latest annual income of the City of Antipolo is stated as PHP 1,238,131,681.42, inclusive of Internal Revenue Allotment for 2010, as certified by the City Treasurer of Antipolo City.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Antipolo adopts Resolution No. 2011-010 dated January 31, 2011 requesting the President to declare the City of Antipolo as a highly-urbanized city.

Proclamation No. 124 proclaims the City of Antipolo as a highly-urbanized city.
The proclamation is expressly conditioned so that it takes effect only upon ratification in a plebiscite by the qualified voters therein.

After the presidential declaration, a plebiscite is required to ratify the conversion.
The plebiscite must be conducted by COMELEC within one hundred twenty (120) days from the declaration of the President of the Philippines, or as specified in the declaration.
The plebiscite must be preceded by a comprehensive information campaign conducted by COMELEC with the assistance of national and local government officials, media, NGOs, and other interested parties.
The city’s conversion becomes effective only through the ratification by qualified voters in that plebiscite.

The converting city must submit to the Office of the President of the Philippines a resolution of its Sangguniang Panlungsod adopted by a majority of all its members, in a meeting duly called for that purpose, and approved and endorsed by the city mayor.
The city resolution must be accompanied by a certification as to income and population.
The President verifies that the income and population requirements have been met and declares the city highly-urbanized within thirty (30) days from receipt of the resolution.
The conversion is subject to a subsequent COMELEC plebiscite within one hundred twenty (120) days from the declaration (or a different period as specified in the declaration).

Proclamation No. 124 does not take effect unless qualified voters in the City of Antipolo ratify the conversion in the plebiscite.
The conversion’s effectiveness is tied to the plebiscite ratification requirement under Section 453 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

The proclamation is published in the Official Gazette, identified as 107 OG No. 17.
The proclamation is signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III, and executed with the seal and attestation through the Executive Secretary, Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr.
The proclamation is done in the City of Manila on March 14, 2011.