DFA-OVS Conducts Forum on Women and Overseas Voting, Celebrating 10 Years of Its Statutory Creation and 86 Years of Women's Right to Suffrage

PASAY CITY 24 May 2023 – The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) successfully concluded a forum on women and overseas voting, titled "Beyond Suffrage," at the Diamond Hotel on 23 May 2023, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Republic Act No. 10590 and the 86th anniversary of women's right to suffrage.

The forum gathered resource speakers from the government and the academe to speak on the milestones achieved in overseas voting and to honor the pivotal role of Filipino women in the democratic process.

In his welcome remarks, Undersecretary Jesus S. Domingo, DFA-OVS Chairperson and Undersecretary of Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, reflected on the Secretariat's journey since its establishment in 2003 and celebrated the 10th anniversary of the statutory creation of both the DFA-OVS and the COMELEC Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) with the passage of R.A. 10590.

Undersecretary Domingo drew a meaningful connection between the celebration of overseas voting and the granting of voting rights to Filipino women in 1937.  Acknowledging that women make up the most of those who participate in overseas voting, “a celebration of overseas voting is, therefore, also a celebration of women’s right to suffrage,” he said.

Hon. George Erwin M. Garcia, Chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), keynoted the event with inspiring message about thinking out of the box to increase participation in overseas voting, especially of Filipino women.  He highlighted for this purpose COMELEC’s policy decision to adopt internet overseas voting for the 2025 elections.

Shedding light on the progress and challenges in overseas voting, Atty. Zoilo Velasco, DFA-OVS Vice-Chairperson, provided the historical data and current implementation status of the Overseas Voting Act.  Atty. Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada, Director of the COMELEC-OFOV, discussed the challenges faced and presented a vision for the future of overseas voting.

The forum further expanded the conversation by benchmarking international best practices in overseas voting, with Ms. Daniela Gil-Sevilla, Head of Mission of the Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines, sharing Mexico's experience in administering the overseas voting process. Mexico is already undertaking electronic voting for certain positions.

Continuing with the celebration of Filipino women’s participation in the democratic process, Deputy Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan from the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong highlighted in an online presentation the important role of women in overseas voting. Dr. Jean S. Encinas-Franco, a professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, spoke about the challenges and barriers to women’s participation in overseas voting and in electoral politics.

The forum concluded with two inspiring stories of Filipinas who broke barriers to political participation abroad. Speaking via Zoom, Hon. Jasmine Bacurnay Lee, Member of the Presidential Committee on National Cohesion and former Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, and Hon. Rechie Valdez, Member of the Parliament representing Mississauga—Streetsville, Ontario, Canada, shared their experiences and valuable insights on women's political participation in leadership and decision-making.

The forum was attended by DFA officials and employees, partner agencies, civil society organizations and the media. END