Busan, South Korea - The Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) with the Philippine Embassy in Korea conducted a training session on the Online Voting and Canvassing System (OVCS) for Filipino Community leaders in Busan on 8 June 2024. This initiative is part of COMELEC's broader strategy to increase voter turnout and facilitate easier voting access for Filipinos living abroad.

Attended by 75 Filipino community leaders from 44 Filipino community organizations in South Korea, the training session focused on the general policies and technical aspects of the new online voting system, set to be implemented for the upcoming Overseas Voting in 2025.

COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin M. Garcia emphasized the necessity of this initiative, noting that despite the highest recorded turnout in history during the 2022 elections, only 40.59% of the 1.697 million registered overseas voters participated. Chairperson Garcia stressed that the new system aims to address the logistical challenges and enhance voter experience among the increasing numbers of Overseas Filipinos, especially in South Korea.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega thanked the Filipino Community for participating in the training session and encouraged the organizations to encourage more Filipinos to register for the forthcoming electoral exercises, emphasizing the critical role that the diaspora plays in nation-building.

Resource persons included COMELEC Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo who gave an overview of the authentication guidelines and timelines involved in the online voting process, while Director Eden C. Bolo provided technical information on how a registered Overseas Voter may avail of the online voting process. The COMELEC officials appreciated the Filipino Community leaders' active participation and voicing out of their concerns and constructive suggestions based on their own experience and knowledge of Internet-based transactions and the situation of many of their members in Korea.

COMELEC Commissioners Aimee P. Ferolino and Nelson Celis, Directors Ester Villaflor-Roxas, Michelle Frances Paredes, Celia Romero and John Rex C. Laudiangco, as well as DFA-OVS Vice Chair Robert D. Quintin likewise participated to support the OVCS training and outreach to the Filipino Community.

The training session in Busan is part of a global information campaign that COMELEC has scheduled in various countries to educate and prepare Overseas Voters for online voting and receive feedback and suggestions from Filipino Communities abroad. The training session in Busan may be viewed through the COMELEC's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/100064675240177/videos/828315262530347.

The Philippine Embassy continues to partner and work actively with Filipino Community Organizations in promoting Overseas Voter registration for all qualified Filipinos in South Korea to avail of the new online voting system during the 30-day voting period from 13 April 2025 to 12 May 2025. Overseas Filipinos who are at least 18 years of age on the day of the elections (12 May 2025), and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register as Overseas Voters in order to exercise their sacred right of suffrage and continue to contribute to nation-building. END