COMELEC COMMISSIONER MACEDA VISITS PH CONSULATE, MEETS WITH SAN FRANCISCO DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS
SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer welcomed Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. during the latter’s visit to San Francisco on 6 January 2023.
Commissioner Maceda called on Consul General Ferrer, where both officials discussed the ongoing overseas voting registration as well as various plans to reach out to Filipinos, including dual citizens, encouraging them to register for the 2025 National Elections.
Commissioner Maceda also spoke to successful dual citizenship applicants, following a simple oath-taking ceremony at the Consulate. The COMELEC Commissioner underscored that the reacquisition or retention of Filipino citizenship comes with it a sacred right, which is the constitutionally guaranteed exercise of suffrage. He emphasized that it is the duty of each and every Filipino to ensure that their voices are heard, and thus encouraged them to register as overseas voters. He also urged them to stay informed and involved, and to become vital contributors to nation building.
Top right: Commission on Elections Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. delivers a speech to successful dual citizenship applicants. (San Francisco PCG photos)
The Consulate briefed Commissioner Maceda on the ongoing overseas voting registration, and gave him a walk-through of the registration process.
registration at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Later in the day, Consul General Ferrer accompanied Commissioner Maceda at San Francisco’s Department of Elections, where they met with city officials and exchanged information on the conduct of local elections as well as the systems employed by both sides. City officials shared their experience on the November 2022 elections, and showed machines used for those who opted to cast their votes at the polling precincts on election day.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco garnered the highest number of overseas voters among Philippine embassies and consulates in the Americas Region in the last registration period, and registered an all-time-high voter turnout in the May 2022 Philippine national elections. END