INQUIRER FILES GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Voters in Tupi town of South Cotabato will vote tomorrow, July 13, in a plebiscite to create a new village amid concerns by environmentalists that the proposed village would be within the Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (MPPL). Named after the grandfather of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr.
, Barangay Juan-Loreto Tamayo will be formed from Linan, Miasong, and Cebuano villages of Tupi. Once ratified, it will be the 16th barangay of the 70-year-old town. The proposed barangay, according to the environmentalists, is within the 15,600-hectare MPPL.
READ: New orchid species boosts forest protection drive in South Cotabato The Save Mt. Matutum Protected Landscape (SMMPL) expressed fears that a new village would attract people or investors, which could further deteriorate the area’s natural protected landscape. On May 21, Tupi Mayor Romeo Tamayo, uncle of the governor, informed Linan chairperson Reynaldo Alburo Jr.
of the conduct of a plebiscite through a letter with an attached copy of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10993, which sets the campaign period, including the holding of barangay assemblies and pulong pulong from June 22 to July 11, and the plebiscite period and a gun ban from June 13 to July 20. Bren Tamayo, secretary to the mayor and designated Tupi tourism officer, said the creation of Barangay Juan-Loreto Tamayo, had been pushed in this city since the current governor was the municipal mayor.
Governor .