Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Mojica Garcia underscored the importance of an informed electorate as the poll body welcomed students from De La Salle University (DLSU) for a comprehensive voter education session and guided “Lakbay Aral” tour at Palacio del Gobernador on November 19.
The initiative, led by the COMELEC Education and Information Department (EID), is part of the Commission’s intensified nationwide campaign to broaden public understanding of election processes ahead of the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
Chairman Garcia, joined by Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand P. Maceda Jr. and EID Director III Atty. Abigail Claire F. Carbero-Llacuna, personally greeted the DLSU delegation headed by Atty. Luis Gonzaga Bonoan Jr. of the university’s Legal Management program. Garcia highlighted the vital role schools play in shaping civic-minded youth, noting that universities serve as breeding grounds for the country’s next generation of leaders and responsible voters.
“COMELEC has always believed in the power of academic partnerships. When students understand the value of their vote, they strengthen the democratic institutions meant to protect their future,” Garcia emphasized.
During the session, COMELEC spokesperson and Director IV Atty. John Rex C. Laudiangco delivered an in-depth online presentation tackling the fundamentals of suffrage, the Commission’s online voting and counting system, and the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation during election periods. He emphasized that “truth becomes true power when we choose to act on it through voting,” urging students to become proactive and discerning participants in the electoral process.
Before the lecture, participants toured key areas of the COMELEC offices, guided by Atty. Patrick Sacramento and Ms. Pamela Martinez of the EID, giving students a rare behind-the-scenes view of how election-related decisions, systems, and safeguards are developed.
DLSU’s involvement, Garcia noted, exemplifies how academic institutions can significantly contribute to strengthening democratic engagement. He added that COMELEC remains committed to sustaining such collaborations to ensure that young voters are equipped with knowledge amid evolving election technologies and online environments.
The successful event reinforces the Commission’s push for transparency, accessibility, and civic empowerment. With Chair Garcia at the helm, COMELEC continues to open its doors to schools and organizations nationwide—anchored on the belief that an enlightened youth sector is indispensable to a credible and resilient democracy.
