The Department of Foreign Affairs today announced that 29,383 Filipinos have cast their votes as of today in the overseas absentee voting for the May 10 elections.
The figure represents about 4.9 percent of the 589,830 registered Filipino voters abroad.
In a statement released by the DFA, DFA Undersecretary and OAVS Chairperson Rafael E. Seguis said:
The first week of OAV went well and without major hitches.
We are encouraging registered overseas absentee voters to exercise their hard-earned right of suffrage, so they can be involved in deciding who will compose our next set of national leaders come July. We also urge them to vote now, in order to avoid last minute queues at the polling places.
Seguis also said that the OAVS Support Center at the DFA, under the guidance of OAVS Vice Chairperson Nestor Padalhin, is operating round-the-clock for the duration of the national elections.
OAV started April 10 and will end on May 10. Depending on the country, Filipino voters abroad may vote using the automated election system, via postal ballot and by personally casting their vote in any of the 93 Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide.
[...] on OAV (COAV) and the various RP posts to find pro-active and doable ways and means to increase OAV turnout,” said Migrante-Middle East regional director John Leonard [...]