OVER half of Barangay Parian’s registered voters, or 2,094 out of 4,112, will cast their votes via “institutionalized mall voting” at Robinsons Galleria Cebu on the May 12, 2025 elections.
“For the 2025 election, we have three clustered precincts, totaling 2,094 voters, assigned to mall voting,” said Comelec Cebu City 1st District Election Officer Ambongan Abilar during a voter education session held at the Parian Barangay Hall on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
This will be the first time for registered voters in Cebu to cast their votes in the national election inside a mall following the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Abilar said this initiative aims to provide a more comfortable and accessible voting experience compared to traditional polling places.
“They will be accommodated in three vacant rooms on the fourth floor of Robinsons Galleria,” he said.
Abilar also said Comelec will distribute Voter Information Sheets (VIS), printed guides containing voters’ names, precinct numbers, step-by-step voting instructions, and a full list of national and local candidates so that registered voters will know ahead of time their poll centers.
Comelec 7 Director Francisco Pobe said Robinsons Galleria Cebu is one of only two designated mall voting sites in Central Visayas, alongside SM City Consolacion.
These were the same malls used in the pilot testing during the 2023 BSKE.
“We selected Barangay Parian due to its proximity to the mall, minimizing travel expenses and burdens for voters,” said Pobe.
He said Comelec 7 was unable to expand its mall voting reach despite their efforts due to the lack of mall availability.
“Unfortunately, due to limited space, some malls cannot cater to our requests because they have occupants. So these malls that have available space intended for public use are the only ones we could use,” Pobe said.
Barangay Parian residents are grateful.
“We are thankful for this privilege. Out of 80 barangays, we are fortunate to have this cool and comfortable election experience,” said Parian Barangay Captain Lucita Lazarte in Cebuano.
“Those assigned to Robinsons Galleria are grateful, as this is our second time experiencing this. We can compare the convenience of voting in a mall versus the chaos and congestion of schools,’ she added.
The mall provides elevator access, particularly beneficial for vulnerable voters.
Pobe clarified that all assigned mall voters are residents of Barangay Parian, who previously voted in schools located in Barangay Tejero.
“Voter response was overwhelmingly positive. However, challenges include limited mall space which restricts the number of precincts accommodated, distance and accessibility issues for some voters, and travel expenses,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Pobe said the benefits of mall voting, outweigh the hurdles.
“Mall voting addresses decongestion, utilizes available areas, and enhances voting convenience, especially for vulnerable sectors,” Pobe said. / CDF