On 16 April 2016 in Zurich, Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Joselito A. Jimeno presided a meeting and dialogue with the leaders and members of the Filipino community, which was attended by around 150 people from across Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The Ambassador highlighted the importance of voting in the ongoing national elections and explained the procedures for the postal voting being conducted by the Philippine Embassy in Berne.
Ambassador Jimeno urged the Filipino Community in Switzerland to exercise their rights to vote and perform a civic duty as citizens of the Philippines.
Ambassador Jimeno called on the 2,381 registered Filipino overseas voters under the Embassy’s jurisdiction to exercise their right to vote. “It is time to let your voices be heard no matter how far, to have a say in the governance of your country,” the Ambassador said.
Overseas voting started on 09 April and will run until 09 May, 11AM (Swiss local time). As of end-of-day 17 April, the Embassy has received 675 votes cast for the 2016 elections.
Other Embassy Services and Projects
The event further brought together the Filipino communities from the German and French speaking parts of the country. They were apprised by Ambassador Jimeno of the various projects of the Embassy, foremost of which shall be the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Switzerland beginning January 2017.
Ambassador Jimeno and Embassy officials listened to the concerns of the community and assured them that the Embassy is always ready, willing and able to assist all Filipinos in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
As part of its consular service to the Filipinos in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Embassy information booths were set up at the venue to facilitate dual citizenship, notarial and visa applications, verification of registration as overseas voter and release of COMELEC Voters IDs.
The Embassy team was joined by the Philippine Overseas Labor Officer (Labor Attache Ms. Maria Criselda Sy) based in Geneva, and the Social Security System (Ms. Wilma Ortiz) and Pag-IBIG (Ms. Bridgette Mahor) representatives both based in Milan.
Left to Right: Labor Attaché Ms. Maria Criselda Sy, SSS Representative Ms. Wilma Ortiz and Pag-IBIG Representative Ms. Bridgette Mahor
The event was an opportune time for the POLO, SSS and PAG-IBIG officials as they gave briefings on their agencies’ respective services/benefits. They likewise set-up information desks to provide membership consultation/registration/reactivation services to the Filipino community.
