Comelec Iloilo fully prepared for 2025 midterm elections
By Mary Joy Cavañas
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) – Iloilo is fully prepared for the upcoming National and Local Elections (NLE) on May 12, 2025.
COMELEC has joined forces with the Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and technical working groups have joined forces for the upcoming elections in the city and province of Iloilo.
In a press conference, Atty. Reinier Layson, Provincial Election Supervisor of COMELEC – Iloilo Provincial Office, said that they are already on track and ready for the NLE, adding that they are just waiting for the delivery or arrival of Automated Counting Machines (ACM) as well as official ballots and other election paraphernalia. Personnel will also be deployed in their designated areas in the municipalities and cities across the province.
Layson also cited that ACMs will also undergo final testing on May 7, 2025 in the province, to ensure that they’re are functioning properly and are accurate in terms of capacity and capability.
In addition, DepEd-6 through its spokesperson Mr. Hernani Escullar Jr., noted about 2,801 schools to be used during elections, 7,337 classrooms to be used as polling precincts, and 35,949 teachers that will serve as the electoral board.
About 2,875 non-teaching personnel will also be deployed to assist during elections, and over 2,000 other personnel will serve as part of election task force.
Layson cited that the trainings of poll workers in the provincial areas are already done including Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras wherein thy undergo two phases of trainings.
The said trainings aim to ensure that the designated poll workers are proficient in terms of their duties during the election. He also stressed that teachers who are part of electoral board must not be a relative of any electoral candidate.
COMELEC also noted some challenges in terms of vote-buying and vote-selling which are prevalent in some areas, citing that they have established “Committee on Kontra Bigay” with the participation of different agencies which aims to prevent vote buying and other illegal electoral activities during election.
Layson also cited that the mall voting in Iloilo City is also ready, comprising of 12,000 voters across the metropolis who will vote at four areas including Festive Walk Mall, SM City Iloilo (Main), and Robinson’s Place (Main) and Robinson’s Place Jaro.
The launching program of the mall voting will take place at University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV) in Iloilo City on April 25, 2025.
Moreover, around 700 personnel are eyed to be utilized across the 66 voting centers in Iloilo City according to Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Director PCol. Kim Legada while 363 police personnel are planned to be assigned at the municipalities in the province to secure the voting centers.
The Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) also noted a total of 1,375 voting centers in which two police personnel are planned to be deployed in each center with a total of 2,750 PNP personnel according to IPPO Director Col. Bayani Razalan.
On the other hand, the eight areas of concern in the province with possible surge of armed threats and intense political rivalries will also be monitored by Quick Reaction Team personnel to ensure the safety of the areas before the day of election.
These areas were identified though the series of meetings conducted at Provincial Joint Security Command Center, and was forwarded to the National Committee. The list of the said areas is currently awaiting publication by the COMELEC Central Office through its Chairman, George Erwin Garcia.
Meanwhile, Layson stressed that the conduct of the elections is not the sole responsibility of the COMELEC and other law enforcement agencies but rather a whole government approach involving all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, honest, and orderly election.
He also encouraged voters to go to polling centers and exercise their right to vote responsibly and refrain from selling their votes for the sake of the country and the society’s future.
