𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧

JDN Realty Group and COMELEC Formalize Landmark Partnership for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections

𝐃𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧 — Nepo Mall Dagupan has made history as the first mall in the entire Ilocos Region and Pangasinan to formally host a mall voting center, following the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between JDN Realty Group and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Region 1 on June 18, 2026. The landmark partnership paves the way for Nepo Mall Dagupan to serve as an official polling precinct for the November 2, 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), marking a significant step forward in expanding voter accessibility and strengthening civic participation in Northern Luzon.

The milestone reflects JDN’s vision of creating developments that serve not only as commercial destinations but also as platforms for community engagement and public service. Under the leadership of President and CEO Aaron Jeffrey B. Montenegro the company has actively pursued partnerships that bring essential services closer to the communities it serves, positioning the Nepo brand at the forefront of innovative civic initiatives in the region.

What started with the mall’s designation as a Special Satellite Voter Registration Site evolved into a broader collaboration aimed at making electoral services more accessible, efficient, and convenient for Dagupeno voters.

Signing on behalf of JDN Realty Group were Diana Castillo, Assistant Vice President for Leasing, and Walurich Dacanay, Mall Manager of Nepo Mall Dagupan. Representing COMELEC were Atty. Reddy C. Balarbar, Acting Regional Election Director for Region 1; Atty. Marino V. Salas, Provincial Election Officer IV for Pangasinan; and Atty. Michael Franks T. Sarmiento, Election Officer IV for Dagupan City.

Under the mall voting program (MVP), a total of 1,094 registered voters from Barangay Pantal in Dagupan City will cast their ballots inside Nepo Mall Dagupan on Election Day. By opening its facilities for public use, JDN Realty Group is helping decongest traditional polling centers while providing voters and election personnel with a more comfortable, accessible, and secure voting environment.

The agreement represents a landmark achievement not only for Nepo Mall Dagupan but for the entire Ilocos Region. This marks the end of a journey nearly a decade in the making for the COMELEC Region 1. Earlier attempts to pilot mall voting in the region, including proposed sites in Calasiao and Urdaneta City, did not materialize. Nepo Mall Dagupan is the first mall in the entire region to pass COMELEC's requirements and receive formal approval from the Commission en banc.

"11 years later, it seems mall voting was truly meant under my watch, and today, I am proud to say that the first mall voting site that was formally proposed and approved in the entire Region will be right here [Nepo Mall Dagupan] where you are seated right now." — Atty. Michael Franks T. Sarmiento, Election Officer IV, COMELEC Dagupan City

For JDN, the achievement underscores the growing role of private-sector institutions in supporting democratic processes. The company’s willingness to dedicate its facilities and resources for election use reflects a broader commitment to creating meaningful impact beyond its core business operations.

"This is democracy at its finest, public and private sectors aligning for the welfare of the electorate. To our mall management partner, thank you for opening your doors to Dagupeño voters." — Atty. Reddy C. Balarbar, Acting Regional Election Director, Region 1

The partnership demonstrates how collaboration between the government and the private sector can create practical solutions that directly benefit the public. By making its facilities available at no cost to the government, JDN Realty Group is helping advance a more accessible and voter-friendly experience for the residents of Dagupan City.

"Trailblazer po ito sa Pangasinan, not only in Pangasinan, in Region 1 po ito. There were many attempts... pero Nepo Mall lang po ang nakapasa in Region 1." — Atty. Marino V. Salas, Provincial Election Officer IV, Pangasinan

The recognition from COMELEC officials reinforces the significance of the milestone and highlights Nepo Mall Dagupan’s role as a pioneering model for future mall voting initiatives throughout Pangasinan and the broader Region 1 area.

For President and CEO Aaron Jeffrey B. Montenegro, the designation of Nepo Mall Dagupan as Region 1’s first mall voting center reflects the company’s long-standing philosophy that commercial developments should contribute meaningfully to community life. Under his leadership, the company has consistently sought opportunities to transform its properties into spaces where public services, civic engagement, and community development can thrive alongside business activity.

The company's civic engagement record in the Dagupan community includes serving as a voter registration satellite site earlier this year, where COMELEC recorded an average of 100 registrants daily during the last registration window held exclusively at the mall.

This MOA represents the natural next step in that civic relationship, one where the mall is not merely a venue, but an active partner in the democratic process.

COMELEC views the Dagupan implementation as a pilot model that could be replicated across Pangasinan and other areas of Region 1 in future elections. The success of the mall voting program in Metro Manila's 2023 BSKE, where turnout at mall polling centers was described by COMELEC as "blockbuster", reinforces confidence in the program's potential to transform how Filipinos experience election day.

With its fully air conditioned, accessible, and centrally located facilities, Nepo Mall Dagupan complements traditional polling places by expanding voting options and enhancing the overall election-day experience for voters and election personnel alike.

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