Ronaldo Z. Concha

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Officials from the Philippine Consulate are calling all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) living in the western region to register for overseas absentee voting in the mid-term elections in the country next year.



The deadline for registration is Oct. 31, Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay told Saudi Gazette.



The Republic Act 9189, also known as the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, ensures equal opportunity to all qualified citizens of the Philippines abroad to vote for their president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives. Voters must be over 18 and registered as overseas voters.



Consul Leo Tito Ausan Jr. said the total number of registered voters has so far exceeded the 1,000 mark and he expects the number to increase over the next three weeks. He said the consulate started weekend registrations last month to register those who live outside Jeddah. He urged Filipinos to come in groups on weekends.



Aside from the consulate, community groups in Jeddah, such as the KASAPI Congress and the Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW, are also actively promoting the importance of overseas voting registration. Community leaders including Fortunato “Atoy” Esguerra, Arman Muleem and Manny Zafra, visited various events to encourage Filipinos to register.



One organization which immediately supported the campaign was Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital which allowed the hospital’s bus service to take its Filipino staff to the consulate to register. Esguerra, who is also working in the hospital, said about 100 colleagues have so far registered for overseas voting.



The consulate is open from Saturday to Wednesday from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., on Thursdays from 8 A.M. to 12 midnight, and on Fridays from 9 P.M. to 12 midnight.