Overseas Filipino workers arriving home in Manila. Photo grabbed from jonie.net.
An OFW organization in the Middle East has come out with suggestions on how to improve turnout in the overseas absentee voting (OAV).
“There is still time remaining for the COMELEC Committee 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 Monterona.
Monterona said the COMELEC-COAV should seriously consider starting mobile voting by setting-up polling precincts via ‘Embassy on Wheels’ program reach registered overseas voters who are far away from the Philippine embassies and consulates.
This is especially crucial in areas such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait OFWs are spread out away from the embassies and consulates, said Monterona.
Citing figures released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Monterona said that turnout in Saudi Arabia has been dismal: In Riyadh, only 2,639 have cast their votes or five percent of the 52,869 registered voters there; Turnout is lower in Jeddah where only 1,646 voters (four percent turnout) have found time to go to the consulate.
The highest OAV turnouts have been recorded in Hong Kong and Singapore, which have miniscule land areas compared to others and where the automated election system is being used.
Monterona pointed out that a number of Filipinos have to travel for a whole day to reach the Riyadh embassy or the Jeddah consulate to register before or to vote until May 10. “We told the COMELEC and the DFA about this during the registration period.”
“The distance and the travel expense are hindrances for OFWs,” said Monterona.
In very faraway areas, the DFA and the COMELEC should maximize postal voting,” he said.
Date: 10 May 2010
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
To Whom It May Concern:
To all OFW’S Who were not able to exercise their right of sufrage as an OAV dont be frustrated because this system, the OAV is only the start for us OFW’s to be heared in the Phil. society in the near future, so, it is now urged for the govt. to enhance more agressively and find ways or solutions for the common complaints of those OFW’s who were not able to cast thier votes. like for example creating and identifying the satelite areas where the OFW’s were concentrated and provide them the facilities to cast their votes in that identified areas with coordination to the local authorities in the host country. And to those individuals who want to derail the OAV system, please dont do that because we tried very hard in order for that to be ratified into law and now you want to junk it? Please think otherwise for the good of the OFW’s and their families as well.
Thanks and more power to the OFW’s and the OAV Law.
Bernardo Duka
Jeddah, KSA