|
Friday, June 30, 2006
Low turnout among Pinoy overseas for 2007 poll list-up noted
AN ELECTION official said Thursday the number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who registered for the May 2007 local and congressional elections under the absentee voting policy is still minimal.
Jun Molina of the Commission Overseas Absentee Voting (Coav) said with barely two months left before the voting registration for the Filipino workers abroad ends on August 31, there were only more than 80,000 OFWs who registered to vote for next year's elections.
Molina said the turnout was way below than what they expected since their target was supposed to be at least one million. He however hoped that the number would increase as more lists of registered OFWs from various embassies and consular offices would arrive next month.
"We are waiting for the reports from embassies by July 15 and we expect the figure to increase," he said.
Asked what could be the possible reason for the low turnout of registration among the estimated eight million Filipino workers abroad, Molina said many OFWs, particularly the seafarers feel that they could not vote because they are moving from one port to another. "Some OFWs are not yet properly informed that they could vote, especially the seafarers, in every port call or destination," he said.
According to him, the seafarers have 60 days to cast their votes, which will start from March 16 to May 14, 2007 while land-based workers are given 30 days or from April 15 to May 14, 2007 to vote.
Records of the Coav showed that majority of the 80,00 OFWs who already registered were household workers from Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Molina said he is certain that the erection of registration booths inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will encourage OFWs to register for the 2007 elections.
The registration of OFWs started last Oct. 30, 2005. The Filipino workers abroad are only allowed to vote for senatorial candidates and party-list groups during the local and congressional elections while during the national elections, they could also vote for presidential and vice presidential candidates. (MSN/Sunnex)
(June 30, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
