OFWs urged to vote during weekdays to avoid congestion in embassies

A large turnout of voters among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), particularly in the Middle East, was recorded during the first weekend of the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) process. Various Philippine embassies, consulates and designated polling areas witnessed throngs of OFWs casting their votes ahead of the Philippines’ national and local polls on May 9. The 30-day OAV for Filipinos started on April 10 and concludes on May 9.While many lauded the success of the OAV, the long queues outside the polling areas have drawn some concern, according to Joseph Timothy Rivera, vice-chairman for Overseas Affairs and former nominee of AKO OFW party-list. Because of the high turnout of voters over the weekend, many OFWs waited in long queues outside. If this continues, it may affect their health. Also, this could overwhelm Philippine embassy staff who currently serve as Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI), said Rivera, who is also National Membership Committee Interim vice-chairman for Filipinos Overseas of PDP LABAN.Citing confirmed reports, Rivera said many OFWs waited outside the Philippine embassies in Doha, Manama, Abu Dhabi and Muscat, as well as the Philippine consulate-general in Dubai, the International Philippine School of Al Khobar, and special polling places in Al Hasar, Saudi Arabia. “Last Friday, the Philippine embassy in Riyadh extended voting hours to 7.30pm because many voters were still lining up outside as late as 5pm. High voter turnout was also reported in Philippine embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait, but with minimal queues. We expect a similar turnout in other polling areas in Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Brunei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Macao and Taipei,” said Rivera.Rivera, who heads the Middle East-based joint overseas secretariat for the volunteer poll watchers stationed worldwide of both party-list frontrunners AKO OFW and PDP LABAN, encouraged all OFWs to cast their vote during weekdays to avoid the congestion and queuing outside the polling areas. “I am strongly encouraging fellow Filipinos to request a day-off from their companies during regular working days or perhaps ask permission from their employers for a few hours’ break to allow them to avoid the weekend rush. “This would certainly fill in the voting gaps during the weekdays, thus helping reserve the voting opportunity to those who can only vote during weekends during Fridays and Saturdays (and Sunday for some countries),” Rivera stressed.Rivera also appealed to various companies and employers worldwide to allow Filipinos to take a break during working hours and visit the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate to cast their votes.