The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially announced that the City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan will not achieve Highly Urbanized City status, as a significant majority of Bulacan residents voted "NO" during the plebiscite held on Monday, October 30.

Out of a total of 1,608,004 eligible voters who participated in the plebiscite, a staggering 820,385 individuals voted against the ratification, while only 620,707 citizens expressed their support for the city's pursuit of Highly Urbanized City status.

This outcome marks a clear decision by the residents of San Jose del Monte, who have voiced their preference to maintain the city's current status rather than embrace the changes associated with Highly Urbanized City classification.

The debate over whether San Jose del Monte should transition to a Highly Urbanized City has been a contentious issue in the province especially on discussions on taxation and scholarships.

The results now provide a definitive answer to this significant question for the city's future.