The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officially announced on Saturday the conversion of Baliwag as a city of the Province of Bulacan with over 18,000 votes residents.

“The dream of Baliwageños to strengthen the recognition of their development and emerging economy in the change of their beloved Municipality that is now the City of Baliwag has now become a reality with the success of this Plebiscite and the adoption of Republic Act No. 11929,” COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said.

Baliwag is now the fourth city of the province with Meycauayan, Malolos, and San Jose Del Monte.

According to Laudiangco, 75% of the vote, or 17,814 of 23,562 answered 'yes’ while only 24.19% or 5,702 said ‘no.'

Among the 108,572 registered voters in the city, only 21.70% participated in the plebiscite.

The Republic Act No. 11929 lapsed into law last July 29 converting Baliwag into a city.