House OKs bill on e-registration and voting of Filipinos abroad

House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has finally approved a measure that would allow electronic or mail registration and voting of Filipinos staying abroad.

During the plenary session on Wednesday, 188 legislators affirmed in the third and final reading House Bill (HB) No. 10178 that mandates the Commission on Elections (Comelec) through its Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) to allow online registration and voting just by acquiring the biometric data of overseas Filipino applicants, with the help of different government agencies.

No lawmaker objected to the bill nor abstained from voting on the measure.

If signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., HB No. 10178 will amend Section 6 (Overseas Registration and/or Certification) of Republic Act (RA) No. 9189 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003.

“The commission, through the OFOV, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and other relevant government agencies shall obtain biometric data of qualified overseas voters,” the proposed additional phrase to R.A. No. 9189’s Section 6 states.

“Provided, that processing of personal data shall comply with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10173 or the data privacy act of 2012, its implementing rules and regulations and related issuances of the national privacy commission,” it further states.

HB No. 10178 is a substitute bill for HB No. 6770, which was a consolidated bill on the different proposals regarding electronic registration and voting.

The bill was approved on second reading on May 8.

During her sponsorship speech before the bill was deliberated and approved on second reading, OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino said the proposal shows that the government appreciates the efforts and sacrifices of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“Today, we stand for them. We stand for our OFWs and all other overseas Filipinos or OFs permanently or temporarily living abroad, but still hold Filipino citizenship. We are making history and changing the landscape of suffrage for our overseas voters with House Bill 10178,” she said.

According to Magsino, while Congress has provided laws for absentee voting of OFWs and other Filipinos abroad, low voter turnout during elections is still a concern — one that can be addressed by the bill.

HB No. 6770 was approved months after it secured the nod of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms. After undergoing amendments, the bill was renamed HB No. 10178.