TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite (PIA) – The town of Carmona became Cavite’s eight component city after residents voted in favor of its conversion in a plebiscite on Saturday, July 8, 2023.
The Board of Canvassers said 30,363 residents voted “yes” for Carmona’s cityhood while 1,016 voted “no.”
Carmona Mayor Dahlia Loyola, in an interview with the Cavite Press Corps, said it was a long journey for the town’s cityhood.
The municipality then was not viable for cityhood due to its small population and land area. It was, however, economically viable being home to at least 13 industrial estates.
“This town is a melting pot with a lot of industrial area traversing the South Luzon Expressway and the Governor’s Drive,“ said Mayor Loyola.
The mayor’s husband, former Carmona Mayor-now Cavite’s 5th District Representative Roy Loyola authored Republic Act No. 11938 which pushed for the conversion of the town into a city.
Mayor Loyola said being a component city, Carmona will now have fiscal autonomy.
“You don’t have to remit your share of the Real Property Taxes (RPTs), and the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) will increase. With an increased IRA, there will be more services, projects, and programs for the welfare of the people of Carmona,” Mayor Loyola added.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed R.A. 11938 last February 23 that converted Carmona town, a first class municipality, into a component city. The law required the holding of a plebiscite to ratify Carmona’s conversion.
Carmona is Cavite’s eighth city along with Bacoor, Imus, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Trece Martires, Tagaytay, and Cavite City.
It was also the Philippines’ richest municipality in 2021, with PHP6.212 billion in total assets based on the latest Annual Financial Report of the Commission on Audit. (Ruel Francisco, PIA- Cavite)
