Register to vote in 2010 polls, Pinoys in UAE told

GMANews.TV
Article posted April 20, 2009 - 01:53 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reiterated their appeal to Filipinos living there to register now so they can vote in the 2010 elections.

Online news site Khaleej Times reported that the registration for Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV) for the May 10, 2010 polls started last Feb. 1 will end on Aug 31.

“We urge the Filipinos who haven’t registered yet to do so, particularly newcomers to the UAE. Those who previously registered but failed to vote in the 2004 and 2007 elections have to re-register," said Noel Servigon, Minister and Consul General of the Philippine Embassy.

He said ongoing registration in Abu Dhabi is from Sunday to Thursday, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Special registration sessions during the weekend are also being held for the Filipino workers who cannot do so during the working days.

But as of April 15, only 392 Filipinos in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have registered so far.

There are more than 300,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) in the UAE in 2008 and around 90,000 are residing in Abu Dhabi.

The embassy has also conducted a registration outreach in Al Ain early this month where 71 have registered.

“We encourage Filipinos residing outside Abu Dhabi city to submit a written request to the embassy and we will come to them if they can’t come to us," Servigon said.

To register, Filipinos must present any of the following — the latest Philippine passport, UAE labor card, Seaman’s Book or any proof of Philippine citizenship.

Registered voters are required to bring their voter’s identification issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the day of the election.