Comelec approves only 4,751 of 1M targeted absentee voters

MANILA, Philippines - More than three months have passed since the registration for overseas absentee voters (OAVs) started, but less than half of one percent of the targeted one million OAVs for the 2010 election have so far been achieved.

The Comelec said it has so far approved some 4,751 absentee voters who registered for the 2010 elections - or 0.475 percent of its one-million target.

Despite this, Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez voiced confidence they can still meet their quota, noting OAV registration will run until Aug. 31. The registration drive opened on Feb. 1.

Jimenez said the Comelec expects a sharp increase in OAV registration in the coming months.

“With the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (OAVS) and overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) groups worldwide, we are confident that we can still meet the target of 1 million overseas absentee voters for the 2010 elections," Jimenez said on the Comelec blog site (www.bagongbotante.ph).

The Comelec said the Resident Election Registration Boards (RERB) of the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) approved the applications last April 4.

“We foresee a sharp increase in OAV registration in the coming months as posts and attaches all over the world have been stepping up its registration drive in their respective jurisdictions. We are also aware of efforts made by various OFW formations to encourage voter participation among their ranks," he said.

The DFA’s OAVS had reported that a total of 52,557 have applied for OAV registration as of April 21, 2009.

OAVS said Hong Kong posted the biggest number of OAV applications at 5,715, followed by Los Angeles with 3,981; London, 2,569; Toronto, 2,322; Dubai, 1,947; New York, 1,859; Washington D.C., 1,541; Brunei, 1,379; and Tokyo, 1,224.

Meanwhile, the OAVS reported that a total of 11,590 overseas absentee voters have applied for registration at the OAV registration centers in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

“The Comelec enjoins the millions of OFWs the world over to participate in the 2010 elections by registering as overseas absentee voters," said Jimenez. - GMANews.TV

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