PH Consulate Conducts Final Lockdown and Sealing Activity in Preparation for 2025 Overseas Voting

11 April 2025, Dubai – In preparation for the conduct of the overseas voting for the 2025 National and Local Elections, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and Northern Emirates conducted the Final Lockdown and Sealing (FLS) Activity at the Consulate’s Election Cabin on 11 April 2025, 1:00 p.m.

The activity, which is in accordance with Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 11061, was conducted together with invited members of the media and the public.

At the event, Post’s OV team, composed of Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) Chairperson Paola Belle D. Ebora and SBRCG team members Amalia D. Abadilla and Jocelyn A. Bianzon-Carbonell; and Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) Chairperson Chareloa Tereze F. Marcial and SBEI team members Richie Lynn Z. Bulingot and Imme Rose M. Miralles-Alos presented the system ensuring that there are zero votes logged, and then proceeded to seal the OVCS equipment assigned to its precinct.

During his introductory remarks, Consul General Marford M. Angeles underscored the importance of the FLS process as it shows transparency of the system. He also noted and encouraged the participation of overseas voters who will cast their votes online for the first time. Currently, there are 123,891 registered voters in Dubai and Northern Emirates, contributing to the overall total of 189,892 registered overseas voters in the United Arab Emirates, which is the highest number among foreign service posts conducting overseas voting.

The Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) members, as deputized representatives of the COMELEC conducted the FLS of one administrator laptop assigned to them for this year’s overseas election. The FTS process included the explanation of the purpose of and the procedures for the FLS; perform the FLS following the procedures in the OVCS Technical Manual; accomplish the minutes of FLS and then place the same in its designated envelope for submission to the SBRCG for safekeeping; and return to the SBRCG the OVS equipment for voting and the equipment box containing the FLS envelopes. END