EMBO residents vote for smoother Taguig City transition

Metro Manila, Philippines - Residents from the Enlisted Men’s Barrios or EMBO areas voted to elect the new officials of Taguig City for the first time on Monday, May 12, with some hoping for a smoother transition amid a still-heated issue with Makati City.

Around 200,000 registered voters in EMBO areas participated in the local elections under Taguig for the first time in the midterm polls. This comes after the Supreme Court in 2022 ruled with finality to transfer Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside from Makati to Taguig.

Many of the voters in Rizal Elementary School in Barangay Rizal acknowledged that there has been progress in the transition, but said Taguig needs to improve the services and benefits given to EMBO residents.

Barangay Rizal has the highest voter count across EMBO villages at 33,376 registered voters for this midterm elections.

“Sana mapangalagaan ang kalusugan ng mga senior [I hope the health of senior citizens will be taken care of,” voter Angeles Diego told NewsWatch Plus.

“Sana ‘yong hospital maibigay sa amin na katulad sa ginawa ng Makati [ I hope we will have a hospital like in Makati],” another voter Analyn Orias said, as his husband Ramon, who suffered a stroke, needs maintenance medicine and hopes for free laboratory services.

Others wanted “clearer” services for education.

“‘Yung facilities tsaka ‘yung mga benefits ng mga naninirahan dito, kailangan ng pag-usapan at pagdesisyunan kung ano ba talaga ‘yung mabibigay pa nila sa mga nakatira dito,” said voter Mikylla Cabello, who was a student at the University of Makati. The university is located in West Rembo.

[Translation: They need to talk and decide what facilities and benefits they can provide to EMBO residents.]

Reelectionist Mayor Lani Cayetano, former lawmaker Arnel Cerafica, and independent bet Brigido Licudine are battling in the Taguig mayoralty race.

In early May, the Taguig Regional Trial Court issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Makati from blocking Taguig in accessing and using the government facilities, including health centers, within the disputed areas.

“Sana hindi lang ‘yung ngayon lang nila bubuksan kasi eleksyon, sana tuloy-tuloy,” voter Rodelyn Gutierrez said.

While first-time voter Michael Manlisis acknowledged there have been solutions implemented since the transfer of jurisdiction in the 2023 final ruling, he said: “Marami pa ring talagang pagkukulang, hindi katulad dati sa Makati [There are still lapses unlike from Makati before].”