ABU DHABI, UAE — Nearly two weeks into the Online Overseas Voting period for Eleksyon 2025, the Philippine Embassy in the United Arab Emirates reports a steady and growing participation among overseas Filipino voters.
In a statement to GMA Integrated News, Ambassador Alfonso Ferdinand Ver shared that both pre-enrolment and actual voting have shown a consistent upward trend since the process began on April 13, with only a slight pause during the Holy Week.
“Voter pre-enrolment and actual voting have steadily increased since the official period commenced. We’re confident the momentum will continue,” said Ver.
Although specific numbers were not disclosed, the ambassador affirmed that enthusiasm remains strong across the Filipino community in the UAE—home to 189,892 registered voters, the largest contingent for any Philippine foreign post. This includes 66,001 in Abu Dhabi and 123,891 in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Tech Concerns Resolved Swiftly
According to the embassy, technical issues reported during pre-enrolment and online voting—ranging from OTP delivery failures to device compatibility—have been swiftly addressed through coordinated support from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) and the embassy’s 24/7 Help Desk.
“Whether offline or online, all concerns have been sufficiently addressed in real time,” the statement read. “Issues often involved outdated mobile phones or full email inboxes.”
Embassy Outreach and Voter Awareness
Vice Consul Kevin Mark Gomez, chair of the Special Board of Election Inspectors, said the embassy has ramped up online voter education campaigns, encouraging OFWs to pre-enrol and vote on-site.
Additionally, the embassy will conduct community outreach in the Western Region this weekend to deliver consular and Migrant Workers Office (MWO) services, part of its broader mission to make services more accessible to Filipinos in remote areas.
“Bringing Embassy services closer to Filipino communities is central to our mandate,” the statement emphasized.
Online voting for overseas Filipinos will continue until May 12, coinciding with the official election period in the Philippines.