THE new integrated offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) opened integrated offices for Western Visayas, province of Iloilo, and Iloilo City on Friday, Feb. 20.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia led the inauguration at the Iloilo City Government Complex in Molo District here.
The four-story building houses three Comelec field offices: Comelec Western Regional Office, Comelec Iloilo Provincial Office, and Comelec Iloilo City Office.
This was the first time all three Comelec offices are under one roof as each office was located in different locations in Iloilo City and were only renting spaces.
“We are home,” said Comelec Western Visayas Regional Election Director Dennis L. Ausan who also celebrated his birth anniversary during the event.
The Comelec regional office is led by Ausan and Assistant Regional Election Director Wil S. Arecño, concurrent election supervisor of Capiz province.
The Comelec Iloilo Provincial Office is led by Provincial Election Supervisor Reinier B. Layson while Comelec Iloilo City Office is led by City Election Supervisor Pinky Tentativa.
The integrated offices aim to provide faster and coordinated services that can improve accessibility, records management, and working conditions.
Garcia thanked the Iloilo City government under former Mayor Jerry Treñas for donating the land where the Comelec building stands.
The Comelec chief acknowledged Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang for facilitating the donation of the Iloilo City government land to Comelec.
With Garcia during the inauguration were Comelec Commissioners Rey Bulay, Ernesto Maceda Jr., Nelson Celis, Noli Pipo, and Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal.
Also present were Provincial Election Supervisors Roberto A. Salazar of Aklan province, Hazel A. Palencia of Antique province, and Milagros Salud Villanueva of Guimaras province, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, and representatives of government agencies.