Manila, Philippines –Despite the prevalence of data breaches in the Philippines, the implementation of the Online Voting and Counting System in the National and Local Elections will push through.
With this new and innovative step by the Commission on Elections, the commission believes that it will fill the gap in exercising the right to suffrage for overseas Filipino workers.
The Comelec has formally signed an agreement with the joint ventures of SMS Global Technologies Inc. and Sequent Tech Inc. for the implementation of the Online Voting and Counting System for NLE 2025, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
“Kung paano po natin inaayos ang pagboto sa ating mga kababayan dito sa ating bansa, ganyan din dapat ang maiparanas natin sa mga kababayan natin abroad,” Comelec Chairperson Geoge Erwin Garcias said.
Although this is the first time that Sequent will handle a national election compared to its previous voting systems abroad, SMS-GTI and Sequent are confident in the system that will be used for online voting overseas.
According to Sequent, they are sure that the system used for OVCS in NLE is encrypted and private, which will protect the system from data breaches.
The project was awarded to SMS and Sequent at a lower cost of 112 million pesos, while the Comelec has a maximum budget for the contract of 465.8 million pesos.
Anthony Christian S. Angeles, president and CEO of the local company SMS-GTI, insisted “ito po ang tamang presyo. Hindi po sya mababa.. And I am confident with our contract signing, we will be able to deliver this project…”
Sequent also demonstrated the online voting process that will be used for next year’s midterm election.
A computer or laptop with a camera or mobile technology can be used to vote.
In the cloud system created by Sequent, only the identification document of the OFW or specifically the passport is needed.
The next step is the identification of the passport with the actual face of the voter, lastly is the face identity.
When the OFW’s identity is verified, a voting rule appears, and then the ballot containing the names of the candidates will show.
If voting is complete, a surface will appear saying the vote has been cast along with the ballot ID.
Comelec Chairperson Atty. George Erwin Garcia reiterated the target in this program is the seafarers who no longer have the opportunity to go to the embassy to vote due to a long stay at sea.