CARMONA, Cavite – The Senate on Monday, January 30, 2023, approved on the third and final reading the bill seeking to convert the municipality of Carmona into a “component city” of Cavite with 19 affirmative votes, zero abstention, and objection.

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito explained on his social media post that the municipality of Carmona is now qualified for conversion into a component city after complying with the two criteria set by the law under Republic Act (RA) No. 11683 – its generated annual income and the number of its population.

House Bill (HB) No. 3968, considering Senate Bill (SB) No. 1355 under Committee Report No. 12 entitled “An Act Converting the Municipality of Carmona in the Province of Cavite into a Component City to be known as the City of Carmona,” was sponsored by Ejercito.

“It is an industrial community that hosts around 12 industrial estates and four industrial compounds that house 329 manufacturing, garments, semiconductor, electronics, and steel fabrication industries,” Ejercito said.

“Carmona is also a rising smart city. Its biggest ongoing development and investment is expected to further transform Carmona into one of the most modern and highly urbanized communities in the Philippines,” Ejercito added.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., the author of SB No. 1355, said the proposed conversion will enhance Carmona’s capability of enticing more investments in the locality, increase peace and development, and improve the efficiency to respond to its growing need for better services of its constituents.

“All the major indicators of the real and viable industrialization are present in Carmona, which includes leisure parks, hospitals, universities, subdivisions, and real states, and the more than 450 industrial establishments, including the recent development of the 200-hectare Smart City of Carmona,” he said.

Carmona is currently the Philippines’ richest municipality in 2021, with P6.212 billion in total assets based on the latest Annual Financial Report of the Commission on Audit (COA).

However, Carmona will lose its distinction as the country’s 2021 richest municipality once the conversion into a component city pushes through.

If both House and Senate bills become law, a plebiscite will be held for citizens to vote “Yes” or “No” on its implementation.

If the majority of the local residents choose “Yes,” Carmona will become the eighth city in the province of Cavite, along with Cavite City, Trece Martires City, Tagaytay City, Dasmariñas City, Imus City, Bacoor City, and General Trias City.

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Dennis Abrina