15 April 2014- The Overseas Voting Training for Registration of Voters in the Middle East and Africa region was held at Grand Hyatt Doha from April 9 to 11 in view of the upcoming registration period from May 6, 2014 to October 15, 2015 for the 2016 National Elections.

Fifty six (56) delegates from 19 embassies and consulates general in the region participated in the training. 

Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis, head of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Overseas Voting Secretariat, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Lucenito N. Tagle, Chairman of the Office for Overseas Voting, and COMELEC Commissioner Elias R. Yusoph were present during the training.

COMELEC Directors Ester L. Villaflor-Roxas and Jeannie V. Flororita were the facilitators.

The participants were trained in the mechanics and procedures in continuing registration and certification of qualified voters pursuant to the Overseas Voting Act of 2013.

Undersecretary Seguis stated that DFA and COMELEC are targeting 1 million new overseas registrants for the 2016 National Elections.  Individual targets were then assigned to each embassy or consulate general to reach 300,000 new overseas registrants in the Middle East and Africa region.
 

A press conference was held at the end of the training on April 11. END