DFA-OVS, COMELEC-OFOV Conducts Training for Foreign Service Posts in Eastern Europe for the Implementation of Internet Voting for Overseas Filipinos for the 2025 National Elections

Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) Training and Internet Voting Information Drive in Prague, Czech Republic (Photo Credits: Luiz Carlos I. Osorio, DFA-OVS)

MANILA 16 October 2024 – The Department of Foreign Affairs – Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) and the Commission on Elections – Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) conducted the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) Training and Internet Voting Information Drive for Filipino community leaders in Prague, Czech Republic

The aforementioned training was intended for Foreign Service Post (FSP) personnel in Eastern Europe including the Philippine Embassy in Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Copenhagen, Moscow, Oslo, Prague, Rome, Vatican, Vienna, Warsaw, the Philippine Consulate Generals in Frankfurt who will implement internet voting in the 2025 National Elections. 

An Internet Voting Information Drive was also conducted for Filipino community leaders and members of the media in the Czech Republic. Participants were given hands-on experience on how internet voting will be conducted. The participants gave positive feedback during the Q&A and discussions recommended internet voting for the 2025 National Elections after having tested the system. 

A similar training and information drive for other FSPs in Europe which included the Philippine Embassy in Berne, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Paris, Stockholm, The Hague, the Philippine Consulate General in Milan and Philippine Mission in Geneva was conducted in Barcelona, Spain last July 2024.

The COMELEC and the DFA-OVS will also be conducting the same activities in the following venues: Abu Dhabi, UAE (October 2024), Vancouver, Canada (November 2024) and Doha Qatar (December 2024). 

A total of Seventy-six (76) Foreign Service Posts including the Manila Economic Cultural Offices (MECOs) and Missions will conduct internet voting for the 2025 National Elections. END