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Daily OAV Registration for OFWs in Saudi
Apr 10, 2009
Saudi Arabia remains to be the top destination of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs.) With the huge number of OFWs in this Middle East state, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) wants more registrants for the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) in this area.
For this reason, the previous five days allotted for OFWs to register every week is now extended to seven days. Since April 3, OAV registration in Saudi Arabia is being held daily.
The earlier schedule made it difficult for most OFWs in Saudi to find time to register because majority of them are required to work for six days a week.
Philippine Consul General Tago said, “We extended the timing of the OAV registration to increase the number of OAV registrants in Saudi Arabia."
Tago informed that OFWs in Saudi Arabia may now register at the consulate everyday anytime between 8:30 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon.
He said, “I hope extending the OAV registration till Friday, when majority of Filexpats are having their days-off from work, will eventually result into a dramatic increase in the number of registrants."
Nonetheless, Antonio Villamor, Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia said that because the embassy only has one data capturing machine, catering to huge number of applicants at the same time is difficult for them.
Villamor further informed that they had to deal with some limitations being imposed by the Comelec. They had the same experience in Yemen.
He said, “They approved our request to conduct the field registration in Yemen but in a condition that we have to get at least 200 assured registrants [which] I think is impossible."
Meanwhile, Consul General Tago, a manned OAV data capturing machine right next to machine-readable passport biometrics capturing equipment at its Consular Section have already been placed. This is for passport applicants who also want to register.
For this reason, the previous five days allotted for OFWs to register every week is now extended to seven days. Since April 3, OAV registration in Saudi Arabia is being held daily.
The earlier schedule made it difficult for most OFWs in Saudi to find time to register because majority of them are required to work for six days a week.
Philippine Consul General Tago said, “We extended the timing of the OAV registration to increase the number of OAV registrants in Saudi Arabia."
Tago informed that OFWs in Saudi Arabia may now register at the consulate everyday anytime between 8:30 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon.
He said, “I hope extending the OAV registration till Friday, when majority of Filexpats are having their days-off from work, will eventually result into a dramatic increase in the number of registrants."
Nonetheless, Antonio Villamor, Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia said that because the embassy only has one data capturing machine, catering to huge number of applicants at the same time is difficult for them.
Villamor further informed that they had to deal with some limitations being imposed by the Comelec. They had the same experience in Yemen.
He said, “They approved our request to conduct the field registration in Yemen but in a condition that we have to get at least 200 assured registrants [which] I think is impossible."
Meanwhile, Consul General Tago, a manned OAV data capturing machine right next to machine-readable passport biometrics capturing equipment at its Consular Section have already been placed. This is for passport applicants who also want to register.
