COMELEC and SM Supermalls Forge New Covenant for Accessible Democracy!

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Landmark Partnership Renewed for 2026 Barangay & SK Elections

Manila, Philippines – The spirit of democratic participation is set to soar to new heights as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and SM Supermalls formally renewed their groundbreaking partnership on December 2. This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) cements the commitment of both institutions to implement the Voter Registration Program and Mall Voting for the upcoming 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

A Milestone for Modernized Voting

The signing ceremony, held at the COMELEC Office in Intramuros, Manila, marked a crucial milestone in the shared mission to make essential voter services more accessible, safer, and more convenient for millions of Filipinos across the nation.

The renewed partnership was formally sealed by key officials:

COMELEC: Chairman George Garcia and Commissioner Rey E. Bulay.

SM Supermalls: Vice President for Mall Operations Junias Eusebio and Assistant Vice President Royston Cabunag.

Exponential Growth: From Six to Twenty Malls

In his message, SM Supermalls Vice President for Mall Operations, Mr. Junias Eusebio, highlighted the impressive growth of the Mall Voting Program, which demonstrates the public's overwhelming confidence in the initiative:

2023 BSKE: Six participating malls.

2025 National and Local Elections: Successfully expanded to 20 malls.

The expansion is continuing, with 23 SM malls already scheduled to serve as voter registration sites—a figure that is the most nationwide—with more locations expected to be added through May 2026.

“These numbers reflect not just steady expansion, but the public’s overwhelming preference for organized, secure, and accessible venues where they can register and exercise their right to vote,” said Mr. Eusebio.

Bringing Service Closer to the People

The choice of SM malls as venues is strategic, as it offers a comfortable, well-lit, and highly accessible environment that particularly benefits vulnerable sectors:

Senior citizens 

Persons with disabilities 

Pregnant voters 

First-time youth voters 

COMELEC officials expressed deep appreciation for SM Supermalls’ continued support, recognizing how mall-based services significantly benefit these voters.

“This partnership proves that when the public and private sectors work hand in hand, we can modernize the voting experience and strengthen our democratic participation.” 

Public Engagement Takes Center Stage

The timing of this renewed agreement is opportune, coinciding with a surge in public participation:

During the special registration in August 2025, 47 sites across the country opened their doors to voters.

An extraordinary over 2.8 million Filipinos have already registered in just the last 10 days, demonstrating strong public interest early in the electoral cycle.

Through this ongoing partnership, selected SM malls will continue to provide easy venues for both voter registration and actual voting, leading to a higher voter turnout and an overall better election experience for communities nationwide. It underscores a shared mission to empower every Filipino to participate fully in the country’s democratic processes.

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