September 18, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
OFW group joins 2010 Partylist race
“For a long time, others have been speaking in our behalf…It is now time to speak for ourselves.”
This was the battle cry of Migrante Partylist members who marched to the Comelec building at Intramuros, Manila upon announcing their intention to run in the 2010 Party-list election.
“Patutunayan namin na ang mga OFWs ay hindi lang Bayani sa ekonomya, kami rin ay Bayani sa Pulitika,” (We will prove that we are not only heroes in our economy, we are also heroes in politics) says Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.
Martinez explained that they decided to join the coming election due to existing policies and laws that are detrimental to the interest of migrant Filipinos and in order for OFWs to be represented by their own partylist.
“Under the term of President Arroyo, policies were geared towards intensifying labor exportation instead of focusing on welfare protection. It is high time that the sector, who has been saving this economy towards total bankruptcy be represented by its own leaders,” Martinez added.
Since the party-list system began in the 1998 election, various OFW groups have failed to win a seat in congress. Overseas workers are one of the marginalized sector cited in RA 7941 or the Party-list System Law that was enacted in 1995.
When asked of its chances, Martinez replied that “we will not solely depend on the Overseas Absentee Voters since the recent figure might not suffice to garner the needed number of votes to win a seat in congress.”
“We will ask our chapters in 23 countries across the globe that they need to campaign among their relatives and friends who are here inside the country. And since OFWs are mostly the breadwinners in the family, we believe that their loved ones will not only support us but would likewise campaign for us in their respective barrios in different provinces,” explained Martinez.
The group is also banking on the support of OFW victims that they have assisted since their formation in 1996. More than a thousand distressed OFWs seek Migrante’s helps annually, Martinez said.
Martinez said, once elected, Migrante’s ascension to the halls of the legislature, will signify a momentous victory not only for the sector they wish to represent, but also to the Filipino people as a whole.
“Migrante commits to work for the passage of laws and measures that will safeguard the interests and well being of millions of OFWs and their families; to fight, in every turn, the government’s parasitic mindset of treating Filipinos as mere commodities for export abroad and to struggle hard to achieve a society where families are no longer torn apart because of the urgent need to survive,” Martinez said.
“Sa mahabang panahon, marami na ang nagsalita para sa amin, panahon na ngayon na aming iparinig ang aming nagkakaisang tinig!” (For a long time, others have been speaking in our behalf…It is now time to speak for ourselves), he concluded. ###
Reference:
Garry Martinez, chairperson
Mobile: 09217229740
Showing posts with label OAV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OAV. Show all posts
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Real reason for shortening OAV registration
Real reason for shortening OAV registration:
Due to lack of funds or diversion of funds? –OFW group
Press Release
10 September 2009
Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organization in the Middle East today said it can’t fully understand why the overseas absentee voting registration period that is supposed to be 13-month long were shortened to just 7-month duration that ended on 31 August 2009.
“Until now, it is still puzzling us, OFWs abroad, why the registration period for overseas absentee voters has been shortened from thirteen months (13) to seven (7) months that ended last 31 August 2009, the very main reason why OAV registrants have barely reached more than 200,000, way behind COMELEC’s original target of 1-M OAV voters for the 2010 elections?” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.
Monterona said the COMELEC en banc has passed a resolution to effect the shortening of this year’s OAV registration that started from 1st February and have ended on 31st August 2009; “Upon knowing that the COMELEC passed a resolution shortening OAV’s registration period, we issued statement asking why shorten the registration and have campaigned for its extension ‘til end of December,” Monterona averred.
Monterona further said the resolution passed by the COMELEC is per see a justification why it needs to shortened the OAV registration.
“Though we heard the reason cited by the COMELEC in deciding to shorten the OAV registration, it is as “shallow as the water in the pail”,” the OFW leader continued.
“Until we got the information that the budget intended for the conduct of OAV registration was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), not to the Commissions on Elections,” Monterona added.
Monterona said the COMELEC being the lead agency for the registration of voters, just like previous OAV registrations, must receive the budget directly from the DBM so that it can properly manage the conduct of OAV registrations based on the original durations with funds on its hands.
“Now, we are asking a legitimate question: Is the COMELEC constrained then by the limited funds given to them by the Department of Foreign Affairs, thus it was forced to shorten the OAV registration to only 7 months?” Monterona queried.
Monterona said if that is the case, OFWs have reason to believe that it is the Arroyo administration’ s intention to disenfranchise the millions of OFWs abroad as the DBM and DFA are under the Executive branch controlling even the budget that is for the COMELEC limiting the latter to successfully implement OAV registrations.
“Is this part of the administration’ s grand scheme so that a big number out of the 10-M OFWs and overseas Filipinos could not participate in electing righteous opposition candidates?, thus the administrations candidate would surely win in the 2010 elections and the Arroyos’ continue to control the new administration to absolve her and her family from numerous graft and corruption charges? Monterona added.
“OFWs and their families will not brand the Arroyo administration as the most-anti OFWs and OFWs’ nightmare if its really working for the welfare and protection of OFWs; even the basic rights of OFWs to vote as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Overseas Absentee Voting law, is crippled by this most distrusted Arroyo administration,” Monterona ended.
Migrante-ME is calling the attention of the Congress to look into this matter during budget deliberations and to ensure that funds for a special purpose such as the OAV registration must be used for what it is intended by the law.
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012
Due to lack of funds or diversion of funds? –OFW group
Press Release
10 September 2009
Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organization in the Middle East today said it can’t fully understand why the overseas absentee voting registration period that is supposed to be 13-month long were shortened to just 7-month duration that ended on 31 August 2009.
“Until now, it is still puzzling us, OFWs abroad, why the registration period for overseas absentee voters has been shortened from thirteen months (13) to seven (7) months that ended last 31 August 2009, the very main reason why OAV registrants have barely reached more than 200,000, way behind COMELEC’s original target of 1-M OAV voters for the 2010 elections?” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.
Monterona said the COMELEC en banc has passed a resolution to effect the shortening of this year’s OAV registration that started from 1st February and have ended on 31st August 2009; “Upon knowing that the COMELEC passed a resolution shortening OAV’s registration period, we issued statement asking why shorten the registration and have campaigned for its extension ‘til end of December,” Monterona averred.
Monterona further said the resolution passed by the COMELEC is per see a justification why it needs to shortened the OAV registration.
“Though we heard the reason cited by the COMELEC in deciding to shorten the OAV registration, it is as “shallow as the water in the pail”,” the OFW leader continued.
“Until we got the information that the budget intended for the conduct of OAV registration was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), not to the Commissions on Elections,” Monterona added.
Monterona said the COMELEC being the lead agency for the registration of voters, just like previous OAV registrations, must receive the budget directly from the DBM so that it can properly manage the conduct of OAV registrations based on the original durations with funds on its hands.
“Now, we are asking a legitimate question: Is the COMELEC constrained then by the limited funds given to them by the Department of Foreign Affairs, thus it was forced to shorten the OAV registration to only 7 months?” Monterona queried.
Monterona said if that is the case, OFWs have reason to believe that it is the Arroyo administration’ s intention to disenfranchise the millions of OFWs abroad as the DBM and DFA are under the Executive branch controlling even the budget that is for the COMELEC limiting the latter to successfully implement OAV registrations.
“Is this part of the administration’ s grand scheme so that a big number out of the 10-M OFWs and overseas Filipinos could not participate in electing righteous opposition candidates?, thus the administrations candidate would surely win in the 2010 elections and the Arroyos’ continue to control the new administration to absolve her and her family from numerous graft and corruption charges? Monterona added.
“OFWs and their families will not brand the Arroyo administration as the most-anti OFWs and OFWs’ nightmare if its really working for the welfare and protection of OFWs; even the basic rights of OFWs to vote as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Overseas Absentee Voting law, is crippled by this most distrusted Arroyo administration,” Monterona ended.
Migrante-ME is calling the attention of the Congress to look into this matter during budget deliberations and to ensure that funds for a special purpose such as the OAV registration must be used for what it is intended by the law.
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Hold special OAV registration
September 1, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Migrante to COMELEC: Hold special OAV registration
The biggest global alliance of OFWs trooped down to the Comelec today to appeal for an Overseas Absentee Voting special registration claiming that the allocated period for the just concluded registrations of new voters abroad was not enough.
“They gave OFWs 13 months to register before the 2007 elections. We are wondering why this time, the Comelec just gave us less than 7 months. OFWs has only one day-off a week, so practically we were only given 28 days to register for the 2010 election. We reiterate our appeal to the Comelec to give us more time so that we can participate in choosing the next national leaders of our country this coming election,” says Gina Esguerra, secretary general of Migrante International.
Esguerra claimed that they were trying to hold a dialogue with Comelec Chairman Jose Melo before the conclusion of OAV registration last August 31, 2009, but the meeting was only set today with Commissioner Armando Velasco.
“We would even like to invite the Comelec Commissioners to visit OFWs in the Middle East specifically in Saudi Arabia so that they will see the actual conditions why OFWs are having a hard time to register. We believe we have done our part when Chairman Melo wrote to us seeking Migrante’s assistance to encourage OFWs to register. It is now time for Comelec to give consideration for OFWs by setting a special registration period up to November 20, 2009,” Esguerra added.
The group explained that holding a special registration up to November 20 is reasonable enough since the schedule for filing of candidacy will only begin on November 21, 2009. They also claimed that OFWs tend to participate more on Presidential election as experienced during the 2004 elections rather than on senatorial election that was held last 2007.
“The number of OAVs that have registered so far clearly shows that there was not enough time for Comelec to attain its 1 million target. OFWs deserved to be given a second chance to practice their right to vote and all we are asking is an additional two month period which is still shorter than what the Comelec has given us before the 2007 election,” Esguerra concluded.
OAV registration concluded last August 31 with only less than 300,000 OFWs signing up for the registration. When the said registration began in February 11, 2009, Comelec set a target of 1 million new OAV registrants.###
Reference:
Gina Esguerra, Secretary General, 09058361412
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994
PRESS RELEASE
Migrante to COMELEC: Hold special OAV registration
The biggest global alliance of OFWs trooped down to the Comelec today to appeal for an Overseas Absentee Voting special registration claiming that the allocated period for the just concluded registrations of new voters abroad was not enough.
“They gave OFWs 13 months to register before the 2007 elections. We are wondering why this time, the Comelec just gave us less than 7 months. OFWs has only one day-off a week, so practically we were only given 28 days to register for the 2010 election. We reiterate our appeal to the Comelec to give us more time so that we can participate in choosing the next national leaders of our country this coming election,” says Gina Esguerra, secretary general of Migrante International.
Esguerra claimed that they were trying to hold a dialogue with Comelec Chairman Jose Melo before the conclusion of OAV registration last August 31, 2009, but the meeting was only set today with Commissioner Armando Velasco.
“We would even like to invite the Comelec Commissioners to visit OFWs in the Middle East specifically in Saudi Arabia so that they will see the actual conditions why OFWs are having a hard time to register. We believe we have done our part when Chairman Melo wrote to us seeking Migrante’s assistance to encourage OFWs to register. It is now time for Comelec to give consideration for OFWs by setting a special registration period up to November 20, 2009,” Esguerra added.
The group explained that holding a special registration up to November 20 is reasonable enough since the schedule for filing of candidacy will only begin on November 21, 2009. They also claimed that OFWs tend to participate more on Presidential election as experienced during the 2004 elections rather than on senatorial election that was held last 2007.
“The number of OAVs that have registered so far clearly shows that there was not enough time for Comelec to attain its 1 million target. OFWs deserved to be given a second chance to practice their right to vote and all we are asking is an additional two month period which is still shorter than what the Comelec has given us before the 2007 election,” Esguerra concluded.
OAV registration concluded last August 31 with only less than 300,000 OFWs signing up for the registration. When the said registration began in February 11, 2009, Comelec set a target of 1 million new OAV registrants.###
Reference:
Gina Esguerra, Secretary General, 09058361412
Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer, 09212708994
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Extend OAV listing
August 25, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Migrante to COMELEC: Extend OAV listing
With only a week left before the deadline of overseas absentee voters’ (OAV) registration, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ groups appealed to the Commission on Elections to extend the ongoing OAV registration.
Migrante International, in a statement, said it is “very disappointed” with the COMELEC’s “snail-paced” approval of OAV registrants. The group said that out of 162,356 OAV applications so far, only 17,000 of them have been approved by the COMELEC’s Resident Election Registration Boards (RERB).
The Migrante leader explained that since the start of the OAV registration period last February, the RERBs have convened only twice, in March and in April this year.
OAV registration ends August 31, 2009.
“The COMELEC’s snail paced approval of OAV registrants is unforgivable. We are afraid that, because of this sad development, OFWs might deem the COMELEC insincere in its mandate to ensure our hard fought right to vote,” Martinez said.
“Migrante mobilized all of its chapters and members overseas to encourage Filipinos abroad to register, only to find out that the COMELEC has been sluggish in approving OAV applications,” he added, stressing that they have chapters in nine (9) of the ten (10) countries worldwide who topped OAV listing. ”The deafening clamor of OFWs around the world for an extension of the oav registration seems to be falling on deaf ears.”
Martinez disclosed that COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo wrote them a letter last month asking for help from Migrante chapters worldwide in the promotion of OAV registration.
“We challenge the COMELEC, under the leadership of Chairman Melo, to rise up to the occasion and prove that the right to suffrage of Filipinos overseas is their priority by extending the OAV registration until December 31, 2009; by working triple time in conducting more field registrations and information campaigns and by stepping up the approval process of pending OAV applications for registration,” Martinez concluded. ###
Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson
Mobile:09217229740
PRESS RELEASE
Migrante to COMELEC: Extend OAV listing
With only a week left before the deadline of overseas absentee voters’ (OAV) registration, the largest alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ groups appealed to the Commission on Elections to extend the ongoing OAV registration.
Migrante International, in a statement, said it is “very disappointed” with the COMELEC’s “snail-paced” approval of OAV registrants. The group said that out of 162,356 OAV applications so far, only 17,000 of them have been approved by the COMELEC’s Resident Election Registration Boards (RERB).
The Migrante leader explained that since the start of the OAV registration period last February, the RERBs have convened only twice, in March and in April this year.
OAV registration ends August 31, 2009.
“The COMELEC’s snail paced approval of OAV registrants is unforgivable. We are afraid that, because of this sad development, OFWs might deem the COMELEC insincere in its mandate to ensure our hard fought right to vote,” Martinez said.
“Migrante mobilized all of its chapters and members overseas to encourage Filipinos abroad to register, only to find out that the COMELEC has been sluggish in approving OAV applications,” he added, stressing that they have chapters in nine (9) of the ten (10) countries worldwide who topped OAV listing. ”The deafening clamor of OFWs around the world for an extension of the oav registration seems to be falling on deaf ears.”
Martinez disclosed that COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo wrote them a letter last month asking for help from Migrante chapters worldwide in the promotion of OAV registration.
“We challenge the COMELEC, under the leadership of Chairman Melo, to rise up to the occasion and prove that the right to suffrage of Filipinos overseas is their priority by extending the OAV registration until December 31, 2009; by working triple time in conducting more field registrations and information campaigns and by stepping up the approval process of pending OAV applications for registration,” Martinez concluded. ###
Reference:
Garry Martinez, Chairperson
Mobile:09217229740
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Low OAV Registration Due to Indifference
Source Verification:
Gi Estrada APMM Area Coordinator
(852)9747-0546
OAV Registration Low Turn Out Due to
Indifference of Philippine Government
The Department of Foreign Affairs and the COMELEC are deluding themselves by targeting 1 million registrants for the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) for the 2010 elections. There is a very limited budget allocated for the exercise to achieve this goal and migrant workers worldwide must press the government to allot more funding to ensure their right to suffrage.
There are fewer actual numbers of Data Capturing Machines (DCM) in working condition that is used for the registration process and a very limited budget compared in the last election period.
Let us take the situation in 4 posts. As of now, there is only 1 DCM in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and supposedly the COMELEC has sent six more there. However, 3 of these have not yet been released by KSA customs officials while another 3 are still on its way. These would be sent to the Embassy in Riyadh and the POLO office in the Eastern region.
In Taiwan, only 3 DCM’s are in workable condition in Taipei, 2 in Kaohsiung from the previous 3, 1 in Taichung and no funding has been sent by the COMELEC. While in Hong Kong, only 33 DCM’s out of the original 54 are in working condition and a paltry US$1276 have been sent by the electoral body. Only one DCM is operating in Macau. It takes 10 minutes for each DCM machine to process 1 registrant.
Philippine Consulate officials also informed migrant community leaders in Hong Kong that there is no clear budget from the COMELEC. Aside from this the COMELEC has also disapproved funding for additional personnel for the OAV unlike during the 2004 elections. Thus in actual operations no one mans the registration process during the days off of consulate personnel.
At present, only 2000 have registered in Riyadh which has hundreds of thousands of OFWs. While the COMELEC reported that as of May 8 this year 69,240 have registered for the OAV worldwide. But the actual number of those registered overseas is only 53,000 as the rest registered at the NAIA and POEA.
COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez was quoted yesterday as saying that the government is still confident to meet its target of 1 million registrants by the end of August. He is silent though on the low number of working DCM’s and the almost non-existent budget for the exercise.
Is this not a way to disenfranchise the migrants vote given that the government’s reputation among OFW’s is not so good given their criminal neglect in handling cases of those who are in distress? They are afraid that the majority of overseas Filipinos will shun the administration’s candidates in the 2010 elections.
It is up to the overseas Filipinos themselves to assert their right to vote and prompt and proper services when they are in distress as they cannot expect the present government to provide these to them.
==============================
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
G/F, No.2 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. no.: (852) 2723-7536
Fax no.: (852) 2735-4559
General E-mail: apmm@hknet.com
Other Email Addresses:
Managing Director : director@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.com
Advocacy Program : advocacy@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.com
Research and Publication: publications@apmigrants.org / ahc@hknet.com
Women's Program : women@apmigrants.org / ecbuhay@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.apmigrants.org
"We dream of a society where families are not broken up by the urgent need for survival.
We dream and will actively work for a homeland where there is opportunity for everyone to live a decent and humane life.
Gi Estrada APMM Area Coordinator
(852)9747-0546
OAV Registration Low Turn Out Due to
Indifference of Philippine Government
The Department of Foreign Affairs and the COMELEC are deluding themselves by targeting 1 million registrants for the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) for the 2010 elections. There is a very limited budget allocated for the exercise to achieve this goal and migrant workers worldwide must press the government to allot more funding to ensure their right to suffrage.
There are fewer actual numbers of Data Capturing Machines (DCM) in working condition that is used for the registration process and a very limited budget compared in the last election period.
Let us take the situation in 4 posts. As of now, there is only 1 DCM in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and supposedly the COMELEC has sent six more there. However, 3 of these have not yet been released by KSA customs officials while another 3 are still on its way. These would be sent to the Embassy in Riyadh and the POLO office in the Eastern region.
In Taiwan, only 3 DCM’s are in workable condition in Taipei, 2 in Kaohsiung from the previous 3, 1 in Taichung and no funding has been sent by the COMELEC. While in Hong Kong, only 33 DCM’s out of the original 54 are in working condition and a paltry US$1276 have been sent by the electoral body. Only one DCM is operating in Macau. It takes 10 minutes for each DCM machine to process 1 registrant.
Philippine Consulate officials also informed migrant community leaders in Hong Kong that there is no clear budget from the COMELEC. Aside from this the COMELEC has also disapproved funding for additional personnel for the OAV unlike during the 2004 elections. Thus in actual operations no one mans the registration process during the days off of consulate personnel.
At present, only 2000 have registered in Riyadh which has hundreds of thousands of OFWs. While the COMELEC reported that as of May 8 this year 69,240 have registered for the OAV worldwide. But the actual number of those registered overseas is only 53,000 as the rest registered at the NAIA and POEA.
COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez was quoted yesterday as saying that the government is still confident to meet its target of 1 million registrants by the end of August. He is silent though on the low number of working DCM’s and the almost non-existent budget for the exercise.
Is this not a way to disenfranchise the migrants vote given that the government’s reputation among OFW’s is not so good given their criminal neglect in handling cases of those who are in distress? They are afraid that the majority of overseas Filipinos will shun the administration’s candidates in the 2010 elections.
It is up to the overseas Filipinos themselves to assert their right to vote and prompt and proper services when they are in distress as they cannot expect the present government to provide these to them.
==============================
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
G/F, No.2 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Tel. no.: (852) 2723-7536
Fax no.: (852) 2735-4559
General E-mail: apmm@hknet.com
Other Email Addresses:
Managing Director : director@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.com
Advocacy Program : advocacy@apmigrants.org / rbultron@gmail.com
Research and Publication: publications@apmigrants.org / ahc@hknet.com
Women's Program : women@apmigrants.org / ecbuhay@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.apmigrants.org
"We dream of a society where families are not broken up by the urgent need for survival.
We dream and will actively work for a homeland where there is opportunity for everyone to live a decent and humane life.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Migrante KSA cited by COMELEC
Migrante KSA considers the Absentee Voting Law a victory of migrant Filipinos, something fought hard for, a platform for pursuing the interest of the OFWs. Thus, advocating for wider participation in this exercise is inherent in its program.
But, the COMELEC citing a militant group like Migrante KSA is something we don't see every day!
Kudos (to all members) and thanks to the COMELEC!
Persevere in the struggle for democratic rights and welfare!
A.M. Ociones
Chairperson, Migrante Saudi Arabia/
But, the COMELEC citing a militant group like Migrante KSA is something we don't see every day!
Kudos (to all members) and thanks to the COMELEC!
Persevere in the struggle for democratic rights and welfare!
A.M. Ociones
Chairperson, Migrante Saudi Arabia/
OFW group cited for taking active role in OAV campaign
MARK JOSEPH UBALDE, GMANews.TV
03/05/2009 06:35 PM
MANILA, Philippines — A militant group of migrant Filipino workers has been cited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for helping promote the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) exercise among expatriate Filipinos.
In its weblog (www.bagongbotante.ph), the Comelec hinted that help from such groups as Migrante-KSA is most welcome considering the apparent lack of interest among many overseas Filipinos in exercising their right of suffrage.
Data from the Comelec showed that only 10,83 overseas Filipinos have signed up so far since the third OAV registration began on February 1. The registration period ends on August 11, 2009.
“The Commission commends Migrante KSA for taking an active role in encouraging our compatriots in the region to exercise their right to vote. With their help, the Comelec is optimistic that even in the arid desserts of Saudi Arabia, Filipinos can and will be enabled to plant the seeds of change in the homeland by way of their votes," Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez said.
Migrante's Saudi Arabia chapter recently threw its support for wider voter participation among OFWs and commended the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah for extending the voters’ registration days to accommodate more OAV registrants.
Jimenez particularly cited the group’s efforts to conduct information drives in the Filipino community and for coming up with their own OAV primer.
“We are thus encouraging other OFW formations throughout the world to follow Migrante’s lead and help us encourage wider voter participation among overseas Filipinos. Let us join hands in proving to the rest of the world that distance and oceans are not a hindrance in proclaiming our love for the Motherland by voting for the nation’s next set of leaders in 2010," Jimenez said.
To encourage more OAV registrants, the Comelec has set up special registration centers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for departing OFWs.
This move is meant to rid the departing land based and sea based OFWs of the hassle of going to their respective consulates and embassies abroad when they register, he said. - GMANews.TV
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Extension of OAV registration in Jeddah
28 February 2009
Statement
Migrante KSA welcomes extension of OAV registration in Jeddah
Urges wider participation to exercise to right to vote
Migrante Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes the efforts by the diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia to extend the registration for Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) up to Thursday, even as the group bats for wider participation in the electoral process.
This in reaction to recent news that the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah would extend the OAV registration up to Thursday.
“The new weekend schedule would still jibe with existing working hours and it is only limited in Jeddah, but it is still better than nothing,” notes A.M. Ociones, Chairperson of OFW group Migrante Saudi Arabia.
In Jeddah, registration for absentee voting would thus be open from 8:30AM to 4:30 PM on Saturdays till Wednesday and on Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 12 NN, effective March 1.
Similarly, Vice Consul Roussel Reyes, the Chairperson of the OAV Committee in Saudi Arabia admitted to Ociones in a recent interview, that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is just finalizing the security arrangements with the Diplomatic Police.
There is no news about the registration in Al Khobar though.
Despite the new schedule, “Migrante KSA would still to request for an extension of registration up to Thursday afternoons and possibly on Fridays,” Ociones adds.
Encourage awareness
“Also, efforts should be made to widen the awareness of OFWs and encourage the widest possible participation,” Ociones said.
To do that, Migrante KSA would launch an information campaign drive, demand the more data-capturing machines and encourage OFWs in other cities to request for mobile registration.
According to Ociones, Migrante KSA is poised to conduct information drive among the Filipino community by holding discussions on the subject, using a Primer on the Absentee Voting Law they prepared.
For companies with high concentration of Filipinos especially in industrial zones, and cities near the registration centers, Migrante KSA strongly urges sending a request to their employers, to set a certain time or day for them to be able to register and to allow them the use of service vehicles.
“It would only take one OFW to take the initiative of preparing the letter and lead the others,” Ociones explained. “The OAV Secretariat should also take action by sending request letters to the Personnel Department of companies known as concentration of Filipino workers.”
Mobile registration
Three registration centers have been officially designated in Saudi Arabia: at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, and at the International Philippine School in Al Khobar.
Since a lot of Filipinos are staying far from the registration centers, the group is also urging Filipino organizations in various cities to send letters addressed to the COMELEC Head Office in the Manila to request for mobile registration.
“Vice Consul Reyes admitted to us that the major hurdle in mobile registration at this point is the lack of data capturing machines, thus it is imperative that this be included in the request for mobile registration addressed to the COMELEC,” Ociones explained.
Sample letters of the said requests would be available soon at their blog: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com.
“Overseas Filipinos have been very vocal about corruption and the political goings-on in the homefront, and absentee voting must therefore be seen by our kababayans as the proper venue to vent it all out,” notes Ociones.
“The absentee voting is a right that overseas Filipinos won through arduous struggle, so we are urging our fellow OFWs actively participate in this exercise.” closed Ociones. ###
Reference: A. M. Ociones
Chairperson, Migrante KSA
(Migrante International - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter)
Tel. No.: +966-56-679- 3202
Email: migrante_ksa@yahoo.com
URL: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com
Statement
Migrante KSA welcomes extension of OAV registration in Jeddah
Urges wider participation to exercise to right to vote
Migrante Saudi Arabia warmly welcomes the efforts by the diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia to extend the registration for Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) up to Thursday, even as the group bats for wider participation in the electoral process.
This in reaction to recent news that the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah would extend the OAV registration up to Thursday.
“The new weekend schedule would still jibe with existing working hours and it is only limited in Jeddah, but it is still better than nothing,” notes A.M. Ociones, Chairperson of OFW group Migrante Saudi Arabia.
In Jeddah, registration for absentee voting would thus be open from 8:30AM to 4:30 PM on Saturdays till Wednesday and on Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 12 NN, effective March 1.
Similarly, Vice Consul Roussel Reyes, the Chairperson of the OAV Committee in Saudi Arabia admitted to Ociones in a recent interview, that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is just finalizing the security arrangements with the Diplomatic Police.
There is no news about the registration in Al Khobar though.
Despite the new schedule, “Migrante KSA would still to request for an extension of registration up to Thursday afternoons and possibly on Fridays,” Ociones adds.
Encourage awareness
“Also, efforts should be made to widen the awareness of OFWs and encourage the widest possible participation,” Ociones said.
To do that, Migrante KSA would launch an information campaign drive, demand the more data-capturing machines and encourage OFWs in other cities to request for mobile registration.
According to Ociones, Migrante KSA is poised to conduct information drive among the Filipino community by holding discussions on the subject, using a Primer on the Absentee Voting Law they prepared.
For companies with high concentration of Filipinos especially in industrial zones, and cities near the registration centers, Migrante KSA strongly urges sending a request to their employers, to set a certain time or day for them to be able to register and to allow them the use of service vehicles.
“It would only take one OFW to take the initiative of preparing the letter and lead the others,” Ociones explained. “The OAV Secretariat should also take action by sending request letters to the Personnel Department of companies known as concentration of Filipino workers.”
Mobile registration
Three registration centers have been officially designated in Saudi Arabia: at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, and at the International Philippine School in Al Khobar.
Since a lot of Filipinos are staying far from the registration centers, the group is also urging Filipino organizations in various cities to send letters addressed to the COMELEC Head Office in the Manila to request for mobile registration.
“Vice Consul Reyes admitted to us that the major hurdle in mobile registration at this point is the lack of data capturing machines, thus it is imperative that this be included in the request for mobile registration addressed to the COMELEC,” Ociones explained.
Sample letters of the said requests would be available soon at their blog: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com.
“Overseas Filipinos have been very vocal about corruption and the political goings-on in the homefront, and absentee voting must therefore be seen by our kababayans as the proper venue to vent it all out,” notes Ociones.
“The absentee voting is a right that overseas Filipinos won through arduous struggle, so we are urging our fellow OFWs actively participate in this exercise.” closed Ociones. ###
Reference: A. M. Ociones
Chairperson, Migrante KSA
(Migrante International - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Chapter)
Tel. No.: +966-56-679- 3202
Email: migrante_ksa@yahoo.com
URL: http://migrante-ksa.blogspot.com
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Security of Undocs for OAV
Press Statement
16 February 2009
Security and Safety of undocumented first before urging them to enlist for 2010 polls
This is a reaction to the news reports that the OAV Secretariat of COMLEC and DFA is both urging undocumented to enlist for 2010 elections.
On the said reports, Foreign Affairs Spokesman and OAV Chair Bayani Mangibin made mention on how undocumented OFWs could enlist themselves for the 2010 elections by simply bringing some form of identification such as passport.
We are aghast on Mr. Mangibin's statement as it certainly lacks wisdom on the subject matter. How could an undocumented or ran away or illegal OFWs could enlist for the OAV if his primary identification which is his passport was being kept by his abusive employer? How could you encourage someone to come and register himself if he is deemed to keeping away from the public or host government's eye much more in the official voters list as absentee voters because of the very status of his stay in the host country as illegal or undocumented? That is precisely the reason why we have called the undocumented or illegal as 'TNT' (tago-ng-tago) . Mr. Mangibin certainly does not know the predicaments of undocumented OFWs whose main concern is their security and safety, before anything else, before exercising its right of suffrage.
Without paying attention on the security and safety of undocumented before enlisting for the OAV, Mr. Mangibin's information how to enlist for the 2010 polls become implausible. In this regard, we are calling the OAV Secretariat to provide clear rules and regulations on the registration of undocumented paying attention to their concerns which is their security and safety and this include the provision for their legalization first. Without such clear rules and regulations, no undocumented are willing to register as overseas absentee voters for 2010 elections.
More so, the shortening of the OAV registration from the original duration of 9-months to 7-months now by virtue of a COMELEC resolution would not give a fair time to OFWs who are facing lots of limitations to register as absentee voters.
The limited and inaccessible OAV registration centers as most OFWs are coming from far locations, the timing of the registrations which are not conducive for OFWs to enlist themselves as it contradicts on their day offs are seen reasons why many will be disenfranchised. We are quite sure that the OAV Secretariat target of 1-M absentee voters for 2010 elections is unattainable because of the reasons as stated above which the OAV Secretariat must squarely resolve. # # #
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012
16 February 2009
Security and Safety of undocumented first before urging them to enlist for 2010 polls
This is a reaction to the news reports that the OAV Secretariat of COMLEC and DFA is both urging undocumented to enlist for 2010 elections.
On the said reports, Foreign Affairs Spokesman and OAV Chair Bayani Mangibin made mention on how undocumented OFWs could enlist themselves for the 2010 elections by simply bringing some form of identification such as passport.
We are aghast on Mr. Mangibin's statement as it certainly lacks wisdom on the subject matter. How could an undocumented or ran away or illegal OFWs could enlist for the OAV if his primary identification which is his passport was being kept by his abusive employer? How could you encourage someone to come and register himself if he is deemed to keeping away from the public or host government's eye much more in the official voters list as absentee voters because of the very status of his stay in the host country as illegal or undocumented? That is precisely the reason why we have called the undocumented or illegal as 'TNT' (tago-ng-tago) . Mr. Mangibin certainly does not know the predicaments of undocumented OFWs whose main concern is their security and safety, before anything else, before exercising its right of suffrage.
Without paying attention on the security and safety of undocumented before enlisting for the OAV, Mr. Mangibin's information how to enlist for the 2010 polls become implausible. In this regard, we are calling the OAV Secretariat to provide clear rules and regulations on the registration of undocumented paying attention to their concerns which is their security and safety and this include the provision for their legalization first. Without such clear rules and regulations, no undocumented are willing to register as overseas absentee voters for 2010 elections.
More so, the shortening of the OAV registration from the original duration of 9-months to 7-months now by virtue of a COMELEC resolution would not give a fair time to OFWs who are facing lots of limitations to register as absentee voters.
The limited and inaccessible OAV registration centers as most OFWs are coming from far locations, the timing of the registrations which are not conducive for OFWs to enlist themselves as it contradicts on their day offs are seen reasons why many will be disenfranchised. We are quite sure that the OAV Secretariat target of 1-M absentee voters for 2010 elections is unattainable because of the reasons as stated above which the OAV Secretariat must squarely resolve. # # #
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012
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