SINGAPORE, 31 March 2025 – Filipino Community leaders in Singapore participated in the hybrid Special Ugnayan: Bagong Pilipinas TownHall Meeting organized by the Philippine Embassy on Sunday, 30 March 2025 to discuss the conduct of Philippine Overseas Online Voting for the 2025 National Elections. It was also streamed live via the Embassy’s Facebook page.

Special Board of Election Inspector (SBEI) Chairpersons Third Secretaries and Vice Consuls Renee Gayle Chua and Atty. Joy Anne B. Lai, led the briefing on topics which include a backgrounder and demonstration of the Online Voting and Canvassing System (OVCS), the only mode of voting in Singapore as prescribed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), as well as reminders against prohibited acts during the voting period and other election offenses.

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo Macaraig noted the feedback of some Filipinos in Singapore against online voting.  However, Ambassador Macaraig highlighted that online voting is the government’s commitment to make overseas voting convenient and accessible to more Filipino citizens to exercise their right to vote, wherever they may be. 

Embassy officials also fielded questions from the audience on concerns related to online voting, security and reliability of the OVCS and voter participation. 

As part of the Embassy’s efforts to strengthen its overseas voting information drive in Singapore, it will launch Facebook Twibbons that Filipinos may use for their social media profile once they have successfully enrolled and voted in the online voting.

The Embassy reminds kababayans that there are only 37 days before the end of the pre-voting enrollment period, which will close on 7 May 2025. 

The Special Ugnayan was in addition to the quarterly Ugnayan organized by the Embassy. Kababayans who were not able to watch the livestream of the Special Ugnayan may still watch the video replay on the Embassy’s Facebook page.  /END

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