As part of its commitment to ensuring secure and credible elections, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates conducted the Final Lockdown and Sealing of the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) on Friday afternoon, April 11, 2025.
Held at 1:00 PM in the Election Cabin within the Consulate’s premises in Al Qusais, the event marked a crucial pre-election procedure ahead of the overseas absentee voting period, which officially begins on April 13 and runs until May 12.
The final lockdown and sealing process involves the physical and digital securing of all OVCS equipment to prevent tampering and unauthorized access before the voting period begins. It is a key step mandated by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure the integrity, transparency, and credibility of the electoral process, especially for Filipinos voting abroad.
Consul General Marford Angeles, speaking with TGFM, called on Filipinos in the UAE to exercise their right and duty to vote.
“Ang pagboto ay hindi lamang karapatan—ito ay sagradong tungkulin. Sa bawat balota, isinusulat natin ang kasaysayan at kinabukasan ng bayan,” Angeles added.
Overseas absentee voting allows registered Filipinos abroad to vote for national positions such as president, vice president, senators, and party-list representatives. The Philippine Consulate in Dubai caters to one of the largest populations of overseas Filipino voters in the Middle East.
The Consulate urges all eligible voters to participate in the upcoming election and to stay informed through its official social media pages and website for further announcements regarding the voting schedule and guidelines.
