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DFA data shows OFW voters double in number

The number of registered Filipino voters overseas for the upcoming polls has increased by more than 100 percent than the figure six years ago.

According to the data of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 1,822,115 million overseas Filipinos have been registered for the May 13 elections. Of this number, 794,286 are newly-registered.

The figure marks an increase of more than 100 percent compared to the 737,759 registered voters in the 2013 mid-term elections, and at least 32.4 percent more compared to the 1,376,067 registered voters in 2016 when President Rodrigo R. Duterte won.

In the 2013 elections, the overseas voter turnout was pegged at 16.11 percent or a total of 118,823. The highest voter turnout came from the Asia Pacific (ASPAC) with 51,361 in 2013, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with 162,261 in 2016.

The DFA-Overseas Voting Secretariat estimated a 30 percent to 50 percent — or about 548,764 to 914,607 — voter turnout in May.

The biggest number of active registered voters are in the Middle East and Africa region with 887,744; followed by ASPAC with 401,390; the North and Latin American region with 345,415; and Europe with 187,624.

While the “decisive votes” are in the hands of those in the country, garnering support from overseas voters is equally important as Filipinos abroad could also influence their families back home, political analyst Ramon Casiple told the state news agency, PNA, in an interview on Wednesday.

“If we’re talking about their direct votes, it’s not too significant because we are talking about a million. It’s good if the votes are solid (to one party) but we don’t have a record yet of solid voting,” Casiple said.

“But there is the second weather of influence — it’s their families. If they can organize themselves and campaign for their candidates among their families, and their families to the community — it would have a big impact,” he added.

But what could woo Filipinos overseas in voting candidates for the Congress?

Jenne Martinez, a mother of two and an OFW in Dubai said on top of her list are candidates whose platform is focused on assisting their families home.

“As a mother working overseas, I would like to have a representative whose campaign platform promises to reach out to the children of OFWs, especially for those out-of-school children,” she said.

“This initiative may be simple, but I’m certain this would be a great help for Filipino parents working in another country,” she added.

Registered Filipino voters may cast their votes starting April 13 until May 13.

The Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Act or Republic Act 9189 was passed in 2003, allowing Filipinos abroad to take part in the elections.

Under the OAV, Filipinos working or residing overseas who are qualified to vote may elect 12 senators and a party-list representative.

Staff Report

The Filipino Times is the chronicler of stories for, of and by Filipinos all over the world, reaching more than 236 countries in readership. Any interesting story to share? Email us at [email protected]

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