The launching of the Comelec Metro Manila regional office was led by (from left) Comelec chief George Garcia, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, and San Juan Rep. Bel Zamora. (Photo from the San Juan City Government)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched its Metro Manila regional office on the third floor of the four-story G1 Building in Greenhills in San Juan on Monday.
Comelec chief George Garcia led the launching, along with Comelec Regional Director Jubil Surmieda and other election officials.
Also present were San Juan Rep. Bel Zamora, Mayor Francis Zamora, and other city officials.
“Today, we celebrate another milestone as we officially welcome everyone. To Mayor Zamora and the City Government of San Juan, thank you for shepherding this office from concept to construction a reality,” Surmieda said.
“On this day, we are thankful because the formal inauguration of your office was able to push through, which is a big honor for us,” Mayor Zamora said in Filipino.
“It is an honor for us to see major government agencies transferring to the city. Because we are at the geographic center of Metro Manila, it will be easier for our citizens to reach, especially those filing certificates of candidacy.”
For his part, Garcia said: “Of all agencies in the Philippines, so many local Comelec offices have no home. Some are under a staircase, some have leaky CRs [comfort rooms] upstairs, and some are in makeshift offices — really pitiful circumstances. So the entire leadership of Comelec is very happy to know about the efforts to put a regional office here in San Juan. We are now here right in the heart of the NCR [National Capital Region].”
The four-story building is one of the biggest and newest local government facilities in San Juan with a total size of 3,000 square meters.
It will also house other government agencies, such as the San Juan Bureau of Fire and the Barangay Greenhills Hall. It also has a wooden basketball court on its fourth floor and an open deck with a garden.
The Comelec’s former office was situated at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.
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