By BONG AMORA
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Filipino Community participation was cited as the reason for the low turnout of Overseas Absentee Voting registrants and voters in the last 2007 Philippine election.
Filipino Community Leaders from the three Regions in Saudi Arabia chorused that OAV turn out in 2007 could have been better if the Philippine mission abroad particularly in Saudi Arabia sought the participation of Filipino Community Leaders.
The assessment was made at the end of the Filipino Community Leaders Forum dubbed as “Tripartite Forum” initiated by the Partidong Pandaigdigang Pilipino (PPP) held at Dajen Restaurant Auditorium, last December 9, 2008.
Renowned and active Filipino Community Leaders from Central, Eastern and Western Regions gathered for a one day forum in which Filcom Leaders discussed OFW issues and concerns more particularly OFW Political Empowerment.
PPP the organizer of the said forum is a new Philippine national political party comprises of Overseas Filipinos (Filipino Immigrants), Overseas Filipino Workers and their dependents at home. It is an Overseas Filipinos Worldwide or an OFW-led Political Party who believe that Overseas Filipinos Worldwide when united under one political party can contribute a lot to introduce and make happen the much needed economic and political reforms in the country. PPP further believes that the time has come that Overseas Filipinos be get involved in shaping the future of the motherland, and not just be contented being called “Modern Day Heroes” in exchange of the dollar remittances they send home that has help keep Philippine economy afloat.
During the OAV discussion, Filipino Community Leaders was surprised of the announcement made by Vice-Consul Roussel Reyes that there are sectors in the Philippine Congress who are now considering scrapping the OAV Law if the number of registration and or voting will still be low.
Joey Badong, PPP Central Region in his privilege speech reminds Filcom Leaders and Philippine Embassy officials present during the forum that Republic Act 9189 known as Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 had been in the making for 15 years in which Filipinos worldwide mainly in Saudi Arabia fought hard for the passage of the landmark bill that was signed into law in Year 2003.
“We fought for the passage of this law for 15 Years and scrapping of the law is not acceptable to us” Joey Badong said, he further elaborate that Filipino community around the globe are against to the plan. “We should not let those opposing sectors in the legislature ruin the rights that was given to us mandated by our Constitution”, Badong said in his emotional remarks.
The law allows some 10 million Filipinos, including immigrants and permanent residents, the right to cast their votes during national elections.
Though Vice Consul Reyes treated the news as rumors, there is a possibility that if the turn-out of votes of overseas Filipinos be less than 1 Million votes in 2010 election, the law maybe scrap.
Rudy Nazaruddin Dianalan of the Western Region said “that the use of internet should be considered in order to increase the participation of registered absentee Filipino voters.”
Strict rules in Saudi Arabia only allow Philippine Embassy and Consulate as voting precinct in the Kingdom. However the use of internet facility needs Philippine Congress approval.
Corlito Obtinalla also one of the delegates from Western Region talked about strategies how to encourage OFWs to register and how to persuade those registered absentee voters to exercise their right of suffrage in the coming 2010 election.
The continuing OAV registration will start February of next year and the Philippine National election is set in Year 2010.
Dr. Lito Astillero, the President of PPP-Riyadh Chapter pointed out that a good possibility of amending the OAV Law is always there to reckon with. However, he added that “scrapping of the law is very alarming and if it happens, only us (OFW’s) is to blame because of our apathy.”
Delegates vowed that if the Government is really serious for the success of the Overseas Absentee Voting, then the following should be implemented in Saudi Arabia or perhaps in the whole Middle East countries where most OFW’s are concentrated:
1. Registration of every leaving OFW has to be required before his/her Final departure.
2. Mobile Registration to be allowed by the COMELEC.
3. Voting by mail and internet voting must be considered.
4. Change of pooling precinct to Philippine International Schools for a better accessibility of every qualified Filipino voter to participate instead of the highly restricted Diplomatic Quarter wherein the Philippine Embassy is situated.
5. To officially invite the Filipino Community Leaders to participate in the campaign for both registration and election to attain the maximum participation of OFW's similar to the 2004 record.
6. Invite COMELEC Representatives, members of the Legislature both Upper and Lower House of Congress including the Philippine President to discuss the issue re: scrapping the OAV Law and seek help for the protection of the Overseas Filipinos right to vote.
Elias Bonite and Bel Hugo of the Eastern Region delegation on the other hand talked about "Change" and preparation for the Philippines to be a better place to stay. They said that “all of these will come true if the Overseas Filipinos and their dependents be given the chance to serve as potential next leaders in the homeland. Bel Hugo added that “Unity for the PPP causes and massive membership campaign drives around the world and in the Philippines should be implemented.
The forum was a great success though some important agenda were missed due to time constraint. The key challenge of the meeting is “unity” in which the delegates offer their loyalty and commitment to the party; and to pursue the OFW political empowerment through an OFW-led National Political Party.
The delegates agreed that the schedule of the next Tripartite Forum be on January 1 and 2, 2009 and Filcom-Western Region will host the forum.
PPP will be having their general national assembly scheduled in April of next year in Manila and registration of the party will follow.
Partidong Pandaigdigang Pilipino humbly offers the Filipino people and overseas Filipinos worldwide an alternative to traditional politics and to misguided populism. PPP’s commitment is to maintain allegiance to the principles of individual freedom and human rights, pluralism and participatory democracy, equality of opportunity and social justice for worker, rule of law and good governance, international OFW solidarity and nationalism in all of their our aspirations and political actions.
Partidong Pandaigdigang Pilipino is the first ever national political party of Overseas Filipinos and their dependents at home. The party general headquarters is located in San Juan City and PPP-Central Chapter is currently in the process of Chapter formations around the country in preparation for the Party’s general Assembly in April 2009.
