DOHA 09 December 2024 — The Commission on Elections-Office for Overseas Voting (COMELEC-OFOV), in coordination with the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the State of Qatar and the Overseas Voting Secretariat (OVS) at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), mounted a full-day training and seminar on the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) for members of the Filipino community at Park Hyatt Doha on 06 December 2024.

The training provided an overview of the procedures for the conduct of online voting for the Philippine national and local elections in 2025.

In her welcome remarks before over 100 Filipino community leaders representing 69 organizations, Philippine Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Her Excellency Lillibeth V. Pono, conveyed the Embassy’s support for a free, transparent, and modern exercise of overseas Filipinos’ right of suffrage.

“Electing our leaders represents a critical component of our democracy,” she said. “With online voting, overseas Filipinos can now easily leverage technology to make their voices heard and contribute to nation-building.”

Also present during the training and information drive were COMELEC Commissioners Marlon Casquejo and Rey Bulay, as well as OVS Chair and DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Jesus Ricardo Domingo.

The upcoming 2025 elections will mark the first time online voting will be rolled out as a mode of overseas voting.

The 30-day overseas voting period is from 13 April 2025 until 12 May 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Philippine Standard Time.

Pre-enrollment for online voting via the COMELEC Voting Portal begins on 27 February 2025.

For more information, visit dohape.dfa.gov.ph, facebook.com/PHinQatar, or instagram.com/phinqatar.