Barangay polls crucial for EMBO residents grappling with new city government

MANILA, Philippines – Residents of barangays in the Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) now under new jurisdiction went to the polling centers on Monday, October 30, to elect a new set of village leaders who will serve as their conduit to the city government of Taguig.

EMBO residents, previously under Makati, have been grappling with the changes that the Supreme Court (SC) decision had brought about. The SC ruled that Bonifacio Global City and nearby EMBO barangays are under Taguig.

Among the many concerns of EMBO residents are social services, including healthcare and education.

May Inventado, a resident of Barangay Post Proper Southside who served as an inside watcher in the polls, said they expect their new city government to equal the perks given by the Makati government to its residents.

“Importante siya para sa ‘kin kasi…i-tu-turn over na kami sa Taguig,” Inventado told Rappler on Monday. “So ito ‘yung way na communication namin sa Taguig para kung ano po talaga ‘yung benepisyo na ibibigay po para sa amin.”

(The polls are important for me because we’re in the process of being turned over to Taguig. So this is our way of communicating to Taguig to relay the benefits that we would get.)

Barangay Post Proper Southside is the most populated EMBO barangay, with 63,308 residents, followed by Barangay Post Proper Northside. The polling precincts of both villages was at the Fort Bonifacio High School.

For now, the Makati government still provides social services to EMBO residents as the transition works out the kinks.

To add to the importance of the polls, this is the first time in five years that Filipinos were able to elect their village leaders.

A senior citizen Rappler talked to on Monday was worried specifically about local healthcare access. Lourdes Lara, 64, had her foot amputated in 2022 because of diabetes.

She’s voting partly because she wanted to keep the status quo.

“Gusto ko kasi ‘yung dati pa rin, ‘yung taga-Makati talaga,” said Lara, who was waiting on the ground floor of the Rizal Elementary School for her husband. (I want the previous setup, to be from Makati.)

Lara put emphasis on the service she had received from the Ospital ng Makati, and the