Overseas Filipino voters

Our embassy staff met with Commission on Elections Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. in Washington, D.C. and briefed him on the number of overseas absentee voters in the US for the upcoming Philippine midterm elections in May.  Commissioner Kho was also given a tour of the facilities where the vote counting and canvassing will be conducted, as well as the secured storage and sorting facility for ballot custody and reception. 

The Commissioner met the personnel who have been deputized as members of the electoral boards for the conduct of the May 2019 midterm elections. The embassy staff also discussed logistical issues that needed to be addressed to ensure a good turnout of voters. The Philippine consulates are all doing their part in encouraging Filipinos in the US to exercise their right to vote. 

We were very pleased with the meeting with Commissioner Kho who, prior to his appointment to the Comelec, was a law professor and also served as undersecretary at the Department of Justice and headed the task force assigned to reinvestigate the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) and DAP (Development Assistance Program) or pork barrel scam during the time of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

For the May 2019 elections, the total number of registered voters across the United States and the Caribbean territories under the jurisdiction of the Philippine embassy is 224,293. Of that number, 37,165 or close to 17 percent are in Washington, D.C. – more than the 28,138 registered voters during the May 2016 presidential elections.

Our team at the Philippine embassy, as well as the consulates general all across the US, have been working hard in their respective jurisdictions to spread awareness about the upcoming May 2019 polls. The embassy has also been utilizing social media platforms to make announcements, and we always make it a point to encourage voter participation during our speaking engagements with the Filipino-American community in various states. 

I also taped a video message to all qualified overseas Filipino absentee voters urging them to register and vote. I always tell the Filipino community as well as Fil-Americans with dual citizenship to be involved, because whatever happens in our country will always affect them one way or another. After all, they have families and relatives in the Philippines, and at some point in their lives, they will go home – some for good when they decide to go back and retire like what many other Filipinos have done after working abroad. In fact, I always advise those who are about to migrate that there are two countries they should never burn their bridges to: the country of their birth, and the United States.

Historically, overseas voter turnout during presidential elections is higher than the midterm elections. However, we are optimistic of a good turnout this time since there seems to be an increased interest on the part of overseas voters regarding the upcoming elections – and this is true not only in the US but all across the globe. 

According to data from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the number of registered OAVs for the upcoming May polls showed that 1,822,115 have registered, and of this number, 794,286 are newly registered. The 1.8 million is more than 100 percent higher than the 737,759 OAVs who registered for the May 2013 midterm elections that had a very low turnout of 15.35 percent or 113,209 who actually cast their ballots.

The number of Filipinos working abroad has grown to an estimated 12 million, and it is largely due to their remittances – which reached a record level of $32.21 billion in 2018 – that our economy continues to grow. Their contributions over the years have resulted in substantial foreign reserves enabling the country to withstand external shocks that have put other economies down on their knees.  

Clearly, this economic power should be translated into a strong political voice – and this is exactly why Republic Act No. 9189 or the Overseas Absentee Voting Act was passed into law in 2003, creating a system that would allow qualified Filipinos residing or working outside of the country to vote in an election because wherever they may be, the outcome will affect their future and that of their loved ones. 

The latest results of the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted from Feb. 25 to 28 showed majority of voters are leaning toward candidates backed by the administration of President Duterte.  

One senator though who continues to be at the top spot is re-electionist Grace Poe. It’s quite a feat considering that she is running as an independent without the backing of a powerful political party or machinery. Many people see her as a hardworking and trustworthy legislator whose heart is for ordinary people especially women and children. Having worked abroad herself, she can relate to the kind of situations faced by OFWs, being separated from their families for years. 

One other candidate that many would like to see within the magic 12 is former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino. His experience as mayor of Tagaytay City plus the hard work he put in as chairman of MMDA makes him more than qualified to craft legislation that would enhance disaster preparedness and management, since the Philippines is considered to be the third most vulnerable country when it comes to natural disasters. He would make a good senator, and should be given a chance to serve more people.

I truly hope more Filipinos abroad will exercise their right to vote. They should take an active part in choosing the right kind of leaders for the future of our country.

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