PH CONSULATE IN GENEVA HOLDS BACK-TO-BACK CONSULAR OUTREACH AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN LAUSANNE
The Consulate General, led by Consul General Felipe Cariño (middle) and Consul Andrea Leycano (3rd from right), partnered with the Filipino Community Association in Lausanne and Vaud led by Ms. Tracy Kramer (3rd from left), MWO-Geneva, and Pag-Ibig Home Development Fund to undertake the activity held at Eglise St. Paul, Lausanne
Lausanne, 06 April 2025 – The Consulate General, in partnership with the Migrant Workers Office in Geneva, PagIbig Home Development Fund, and the Filipino-Swiss community in Lausanne and Vaud, successfully conducted the annual consular outreach in Lausanne where 100-plus Overseas Filipino Workers came for different consular, passport and government services, including pre-voting enrollment assistance for the upcoming 2025 National Elections.
The team successfully provided services to a diverse group of clients. A total of 66 individuals sought assistance with Pag-Ibig-related matters, while 35 clients engaged with OWWA for their specific needs. Additionally, six passport applications were processed, and ten notarization services were completed. The initiative also facilitated the enrollment of 15 individuals in the COMELEC online portal, ensuring their participation in upcoming electoral processes.
In line with the mandate to promote the welfare and protect the rights of Filipinos based on the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) program, the Consulate General and MWO representatives extended valuable assistance and legal guidance to numerous Filipinos. These efforts addressed a wide range of concerns, including employment-related issues, runaway incidents, and potential cases of labor trafficking. Support was also provided on matters such as family relations, foreign divorces, property and land title disputes in the Philippines, as well as retirement and livelihood planning for those considering returning to the country.
Consul General Carino thanked the community leaders for their cooperation and briefed them on consular/ passport rules and the PH National Elections in which qualified, registered OFWs can vote online by enrolling at the COMELEC online voting portal. He expressed hope that the Consulate can partner with the community in the promotion of the COMELEC Online Voting portal in the jurisdiction with 2,100 registered overseas voters.
The Consulate’s pre-voting enrollment assistance service drew interest from a number of Filipinos who needed assistance in navigating the online digital portal; OWWA and Pag-ibig services were on hand to receive a significant number of clients which found the services highly convenient.
According to the COMELEC, the enrollment period will be until May 7 while actual online voting for qualified voters in the National Elections will take place continuously, including on weekends, from 13 April until 12 May (1700HR, PH time). The PH Mission will remain open during the month-long election period to provide online enrollment-related services.
The Consulate General has been providing the annual consular outreach services to the Filipino community residing in the cantons of Vaud and Geneva. Since January 2025, the Consulate General has opened full consular, passport and OWWA services every third Saturday monthly, and will be open 7-days a week to perform election duties for the duration of the 2025 National Elections. END