Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) have stepped up the preparations for overseas voting for 2016 presidential elections.
Comelec, in coordination with DFA-OVS, conducted a three-day training for officers and staff of the foreign service posts (FSPs) and Manila Economic and Cultural Offices (MECOs).
A total of 138 representatives from 48 different Philippine embassies, consulate generals, and MECOs participated in the training, DFA-OVS announced on Friday (February 26).
They will act as Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC), Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI)and Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) during the overseas voting election period from April 9 to May 9.
The recently concluded training will be followed by another series of preparation for the Automated Election System (AES).
Record-breaking number of overseas voters
A total of 826,880 new registered overseas voters were documented from the recently concluded overseas registration.
The figure is 107% over the previous registration period’s total of 398,108 new registered overseas voters.
Also see: Why the OFW vote matters
“This is the first time in the history of Philippine overseas voting that we will have over one million active overseas registered voters for an election. This is the result of lessons learned from the previous electoral cycles, consistent hard work of our Foreign Service Posts, and genuine interest of our kababayans to exercise their right to choose our new leaders,” DFA-OVS Chairman and Office of Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said.
More than 163,000 overseas voters were also deactivated after failing to vote during the last two consecutive elections.
The 2016 national elections will have over 1.37 million registered overseas voters that are qualified to vote.
Also read: Number of active Filipino voters abroad reaches record 1.4M
All registered overseas Filipino citizens abroad during the 30-day overseas voting period from April 9 to May 9 may vote as an overseas voter for the 2016 presidential elections.
For additional information visit www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph or www.comelec.gov.ph.
