MANILA, Philippines — Close to 23,000 registered voters of Barangay 176 also known as Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City voted to divide their area into six independent villages, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday.

Based on the proclamation of the Barangay Plebiscite Board of Canvassers, a total of 22,854 residents voted "yes" to divide the barangay while 2,584 voted no.

With the majority of the voters having agreed to the division of Barangay 176, the country's most populous barangay, the poll body ratified the creation of six new villages.

They will be known as Barangay 176-A, 176-B, 176-C, 176-D, 176-E and 176-F.

Of the 86,153 registered voters, 25,345 participated in the plebiscite which was held pursuant to Republic Act 11993 approved on April 3, 2024.