Overseas voter’s listup reaches 212,009

MANILA, Philippines —The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday announced that 212,009 new overseas absentee voters (OAV) have registered, bringing to 801,838 the total number of registered OAVs for the 2013 midterm elections.

“The overall total, when added to our stock total of 589,830, brings 2013 registrants to 801,838, indicating that the target of 1,000,000 registered voters for the upcoming 2013 senatorial and party-list election is about to be realized,” the DFA said in a statement.
Based on the latest statistics, the Philippines’ embassies and consulates abroad accounted for 110, 170 new OAVs. By region, the largest number of Filipino registrants were accounted for in Middle East and Africa, with 36, 391, followed by those in Americas with 31, 785, Europe, 21, 959; Asia and the Pacific, 20, 035.

Meanwhile, local registrations accounted for 101,839 of the new OAVs. Local registrations centers were set up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 (NAIA), DFA-ASEANA, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Commission on Filipinos Overseas (COF), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Joint Manning Group/Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (JMG/AMOSUP), and the Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC), Inc.

The 12-month OAV registration, which began on October 31 last year, runs until October 31 this year. Less than three more months remain for other overseas Filipinos to register.

In its statement, the DFA noted that it was intensifying its campaign efforts, particularly through commanding its Foreign Service Posts’ (FSPs) to maximize the use of the internet in disseminating e-posters to spread OAV awareness.

It said local registration offices and agencies likewise supported the campaign by uploading the posters on their official websites.

“The Office of the President also uploaded the e-poster in the announcement portion of its official website,” it said in the statement.

It said FSPs had also posted the campaigns in strategic places within the FSPs areas of jurisdiction.

“FSPs were also encouraged to distribute the posters to different Filipino communities and organizations abroad to generate more OAV awareness and interest among prospective voters,” it said.

It said other techniques used by the FSPs in promoting OAV awareness were mobile registration activities, partnerships with telecommunication companies for OAV advisories, and tie-ups with companies.

It said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario also wrote to around 4,000 leaders of Filipino associations and organizations around the world to solicit support in registering their members to ensure maximum participation in the 2013 electoral process by Filipinos overseas.