Saipan outreach highlights overseas voting for 2028 PH polls

The Philippine Consulate General in Guam conducted a two-day mobile consular outreach in Saipan last Dec. 20-21 at the Beach Garden Hotel & Apartments, delivering key services to Filipino nationals in the CNMI and updates on how to vote online in the 2028 Philippine elections.

Vice Consul Daniela Villamin-Oriondo said the outreach processed passports, civil registry documents, notarials, dual citizenship applications, and overseas voter registration.

In all, about 80 people were served across all services, though final figures will be formally reported to Manila.

Villamin-Oriondo said the operation ran smoothly due to advanced pre-processing, with applicants contacted ahead of time to complete requirements before their appointments.

“The presence of the Philippine Consulate General is very important to our kababayans (countrymen) abroad, because of the essential consular services, we were able to go to them without them going to the consulate,” she said.

Villamin-Oriondo also noted that bringing services to Saipan not only saves applicants from traveling to Guam, but also allows the consulate to share public information, including the resumption of overseas voter registration for the 2028 Philippine presidential elections.

Overseas voter registration resumed on Dec. 1, 2025 and runs until Sept. 30, 2027. Registration requires a personal appearance.

“We encourage everyone to register to vote or to update their details for the overseas voting for the 2028 Philippine presidential elections,” said Villamin-Oriondo.

Registered voters are advised to verify or update their status—particularly contact details—as overseas voting in 2028 is expected to remain online, similar to the 2025 midterm elections. Required documents include a Philippine passport, a completed registration form, and an identification certificate for dual citizens.

“Next year, we are planning to, of course, hold more consular services, and overseas voting registration would be part of our consular services,” she said.

Villamin-Oriondo added that the consulate is planning future outreach visits, with Saipan tentatively scheduled for February 2026 and possible missions to Tinian and Rota around April, pending final arrangements.

She also said the Philippine government is anticipating the opening of a Migrant Workers Office in Guam, which would handle labor-related concerns and worker registrations for the consulate’s jurisdiction.

“The Migrant Workers Office would be able to process labor concerns and also registration membership, etc.,” she said.

Meanwhile, a voter from Pangasinan who attended the outreach described the process to activate voting status as “easy and fast,” and said consular staff were accommodating.