MARCOS DECLARES NAGA CITY HIGHLY URBANIZED; BILESTONES UNLOCKED IN HISTORIC SHIFT FOR BICOL HUB
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially declared Naga City a Highly Urbanized City (HUC), marking a historic shift in the governance, economy, and political landscape of the Bicol Region’s premier commercial hub.
The transition was formalized through a presidential proclamation signed on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. The milestone transforms Naga into the 34th Highly Urbanized City in the Philippines.
Met Requirements and Statutory Compliance
The executive action follows a formal request submitted by the local government via Council Resolution No. 2026-078 on January 27, 2026. Data verified by the Naga City Government confirms that the city has comfortably surpassed the strict legal prerequisites mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991:
Population Benchmark: Naga’s population stands at 209,170 based on the Philippine Statistics Authority census, clearing the statutory 200,000 population floor.
Fiscal Capability: The city’s annual income has consistently breached ₱1 billion since 2016, vastly exceeding the ₱50 million requirement evaluated at 1991 constant prices.
A Symbolic Announcement
Current City Mayor Leni Robredo broke the news to the public during the formal commemoration of the 68th birth anniversary of her late husband, former DILG Secretary and long-time Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo. Local officials noted that achieving HUC status fulfills a long-standing vision for the city’s administrative evolution, which Jesse Robredo pioneered through participatory governance initiatives decades prior.
The Path to Ratification: Comelec Plebiscite
The presidential proclamation does not immediately sever ties with the province. Under Rule VIII, Article 12 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government Code, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) must conduct a public plebiscite within 120 days of the signing.
Registered voters of Naga City will head to the polls to formally vote on and ratify the city’s conversion.
Administrative Autonomy and Future Growth
Upon successful ratification in the upcoming plebiscite, Naga City will gain absolute administrative independence from the provincial government of Camarines Sur.
The status upgrade ensures direct fiscal autonomy, allowing the local leadership to retain and manage local revenue streams without provincial oversight. Furthermore, the city is set to secure direct access to flagship national funding pools and eventually establish its own independent congressional representation.
Local planners emphasize that the HUC designation will inject substantial momentum into Naga’s "2028 Finish Lines" framework, a municipal development plan targeting comprehensive urban planning, climate change mitigation, and large-scale flood resilience infrastructure.
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