The villages Makati lost to Taguig

Updated: Feb. 1, 8:30 p.m., EST

ome residents of Makati City will see a different town name and unfamiliar candidates on their ballot in elections next year.

That is after the Supreme Court last year reclassified 10 barangays (villages) originally under Makati City as now part of its neighboring Taguig City. The court decision, which put an end to decades-long territorial dispute between the two cities, left Makati at the losing end, decimating almost its entire second congressional district and putting into question how the city will be governed.

The transition has already started: previous Makati regional trial courts have been transferred to Taguig's jurisdiction, Makati has started budgeting for next fiscal year without accounting for revenues from the 10 barangays, while even public requests to government agencies for "Makati data" would exclude the territories subject of the ruling.

Makati and Taguig: then and now

The Supreme Court decision in late 2022 drastically redrew the maps of two of Metro Manila's cities

Before Supreme Court decision

After Supreme Court decision

Makati

Taguig

Metro Manila

Makati and Taguig were also in dispute over ownership of Fort Bonifacio, although Taguig has been governing the area.

Area

of detail

Before Supreme Court decision

Makati

Taguig

Metro Manila

Area

of detail

After Supreme Court decision

Makati

Taguig

Makati and Taguig were also in dispute over ownership of Fort Bonifacio, although Taguig has been governing the area.

Sources: Author's analysis of the Supreme Court decision, James Faeldon

At the heart of the decision is the transfer of the “embo” barangays namely Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Pembo, West Rembo and South Cembo. In addition, barangays Rizal, Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside were also moved to Taguig. Fort Bonifacio, which has typically been under Taguig, would stay with the city under the same high court ruling.

By land area, Makati lost around 9.2 square kilometers to Taguig, nearly the size of Boracay Island and about 16 times the size of Rizal Park.

How big is the land area of the 10 barangays?

16 Rizal Parks

0.58 sq km

10 barangays

9.2 sq km

93 Philippine Arenas

0.099 sq km

10 barangays

9.2 sq km

16 Rizal Parks

0.58 sq km

93 Philippine Arenas

0.099 sq km

Source: Author's research

These 10 barangays were Makati's highly populated areas and home to 14 public schools where majority of the city's students go. Public school fees are funded by taxes, but on top of that, Makati said it used to offer aid to its students. This assistance was put in peril by the transfer of barangays to Taguig's fold. Taguig, for its part, assured its new citizens continued education support.

The barangays were originally part of Makati's second legislative district, together with barangays Guadalupe Nuevo, Guadalupe Viejo and Pinagkaisahan. Collectively, this district is poorer than its neighboring first district, which encompasses exclusive areas in Forbes Park and San Lorenzo, and home to various tax-generating amenities such as shopping malls.

But the "embo" and three other barangays are rich in votes. In the most recent barangay elections in October 2023, registered voters in the area reached over 212,000, equivalent to 45% of total votes in Makati. An analysis showed that now in Taguig, votes from these areas will continue to carry a significant weight, albeit at a lower 31% share, when compared with other Taguig barangays.

This voting power has prompted Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, whose family has led Makati for decades, to mull over the possibility of running for Taguig mayor next year. Binay won her third and final term as Makati mayor in 2022 with 338,819 votes.

Ten barangays transferred from Makati to Taguig are vote-rich areas

Share of registered voters of the 10 barangays when placed under Makati or Taguig

Voters from 10 barangays

Other voters from each city

0% of registered voters

50%

100%

45%

Makati

55%

31%

Taguig

69%

Voters from 10 barangays

Other voters from

each city

100% of registered voters

45%

31%

Makati

Taguig

Note: Voters' registration data as of October 2023 barangay elections.
Source: Comelec

The impact goes beyond local politics. With just three barangays under Makati's new second district, the question now looms whether the district– and the congressional seat– will remain. Data showed that the population of the second district dropped to just around 38,000 from over 300,000 with the barangay transfer, according to May 2020 population data, the latest for which data is available. This effectively made the district the smallest in terms of population just next to Batanes. The district is currently served by Rep. Luis Jose Campos.

Makati second district is second smallest in population with barangay transfer

Legislative districts in the Philippines

Population of Makati’s second district dropped to 38,143 after the transfer of barangays to Taguig, lowest after Batanes.

One city/province

Circle size represents population

Iloilo

One legislative district

Cavite has the most number of legislative districts.

Sulu

Rizal

Cebu City

Manila

Davao City

The 10 barangays are home to 336,873 people. It’s unclear if it will form a district or join one in Taguig.

Batanes is the smallest legislative district with 18,831 people.

Taguig

One city/province

Circle size represents population

Population of Makati’s second district dropped to 38,143 after the transfer of barangays to Taguig.

One legislative district

Sulu

Cavite

Manila

Batanes is the smallest legislative district with 18,831 people.

Note: Data as of May 2020.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority

The jurisdictional change also has bearing on public funds. By law, 20% of national government revenues are shared with the barangays, which count that as part of their income. These revenues, in turn, go toward financing public projects such as infrastructure and providing social services to their residents.

Data showed that since 2012, Makati's second legislative district accounted for an increasing share of national tax allocation (previously called internal revenue allotment). That said, while the tax allocation will be reduced, city administrator Claro Certeza had said that subsidies used to go to these barangays will also be counted as savings, helping lower expenses and offsetting a decline in revenues.

"Makati does not rely on the NTA because of our consistent tax collection performance. Locally-sourced revenues are more than enough to fund our 2024 budget, not to mention the savings gained from the subsidies previously given to the embo barangays," Certeza was quoted as saying.

Bulk of Makati's national tax share go to its second district

Annual share of national tax allocation

Note: Mandanas ruling refers to the Supreme Court decision that increased the local government share of national taxes.
Source: Philippine Institute for Development Studies

Correction

An earlier version of this story indicated that the 10 barangays will no longer see Binay's name in the ballot for Makati mayor next year because of being relocated to Taguig. The fact is Binay is no longer eligible for reelection next year.

Sources

Comelec, Philippine Statistics Authority, Makati City government, PIDS, James Faeldon

This is a personal project by Prinz Magtulis. Views and opinions expressed here are of the author alone. This project, other information and the author's portfolio are available on his personal website.