Guimaras: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Guimaras province extended services beyond its electoral mandate by holding an outreach and charity event in a remote island in the municipality of Sibunag. The Comelec team traveled by boat on Friday across the waters of Sibunag, bringing packages of medicine, food supplies, and hygiene kits to residents of the island sitio of Naoway in Barangay San Isidro.

According to Philippines News Agency, the event marked the celebration of the commission’s 85th founding anniversary, Comelec-Guimaras said in a statement on Saturday. Anchored on the theme ‘Sustaining Nature, Serving Communities, A Legacy of Growth and Giving,’ the event highlighted Comelec’s continuing commitment to extending public service beyond electoral duties.

Provincial Election Supervisor, lawyer Salud Milagros Villanueva, expressed that while their main mandate is to perform electoral duties, they also have a civic duty to assist underprivileged sectors of the community. Villanueva emphasized that the work in Comelec extends far beyond elections and is about compassion, accessibility, and the pursuit of inclusive public service.

The outreach included voters’ education sessions in preparation for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in November 2026. These sessions aimed to strengthen civic awareness and ensure that even those in remote areas remain informed and empowered to participate in the democratic process.

Election officer Leah Uy of Sibunag highlighted that democracy begins when every citizen feels seen, heard, and served, and by reaching out to far-flung communities, they bring not just services, but also the spirit of democracy itself. Residents of Sitio Naoway expressed gratitude for the effort, calling it a meaningful gesture that brought both assistance and encouragement.