The local Commission on Elections (Comelec) is ready to hold the cityhood plebiscite in Dasmariñas, Cavite, on November 25.

Apolonio A. Ramos, Dasmariñas Comelec officer, said preparations are in place and that he sees no problem with the conduct of the plebiscite in the town.

“We’re ready. All that registered voters have to do is go out of the house and participate.”

The plebiscite date is contained in Comelec Resolution 8683 signed by Chairman Jose Melo and the commissioners of the poll body. The voters will ratify the conversion of the town into a city.

President Arroyo signed the plebiscite bill last November 15 after Congress passed the measure last November 5.

Cavite 2nd District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. filed House Bill 5258 last October 3, 2008 to push the plebiscite move that has been pending in Congress for 12 years. The measure was first filed in 1997 by Rep. Renato P. Dragon along with the cityhood bills of Imus and Bacoor.

The bill was filed after the town has met all the requirements to become a city. Dasmariñas, a first-class urban municipality, is the most populated town in Cavite.

Ramos said the town has 292,986 registered voters and that 1,508 polling precincts in the town’s 75 barangays (villages) will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on plebiscite day.

Two policemen would be designated in each polling place to ensure that the plebiscite will be peaceful and orderly.

Ramos said he briefed town officials and residents in a “pulong-pulong” (meeting) last Friday and that all of all them had expressed their readiness for the plebiscite.

Local officials have invited administration presidential aspirant Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro and other political leaders on plebiscite day.

Malacañang has yet to announce if the plebiscite day would be a holiday. “We just hope that Malacañang will declare the plebiscite day a holiday so that the residents can cast their yes or no vote to the cityhood move,” said Ramos.

Campaigns promoting yes to the cityhood started long time ago with the banners seen in the town’s crowded areas, it was observed.