Ronaldo Z. Concha Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Around 1,400 Filipinos participated in the one year period of overseas absentee voting registration, consulate officials said on the last day of the OAV registration last week. Consul Leo Tito Ausan said the turnout was only 25 percent of the total number of the registrations on 2009. The number was low, he said, in spite of the aggressive campaign conducted by the Philippine mission, the department of foreign affairs, other concerned agencies, media and members of the Filipino community in the Kingdom. Despite COMELEC fforts, Ausan said the number of registrants increased only during the last two months especially the last two days of registration. Ausan said many OFWs cited timing and location as the most common reason for low registration. “Our fellow countrymen were complaining of conflict in their schedule and the location of the registration from their place of work or from their accommodation but there are also other kababayan saying that their employer don't allow them while others just simply said that they were not interested to register and we all respect that because that is their right,” Ausan said. During the last two days, Ausan said, there was a remarkable surge in registration. He added that if the numbers were as consistent during the one-year registration period the turnout would have been remarkable. But Ausan said the nature of the election has also something to do with the registration. He explained that the interest of the public is more in the presidential elections than the mid-term elections where they will just vote for senators and party members. Among those who registered on the last day was a mother and daughter who had arrived from the Philippines that day and instead of going home opted to first register at the consulate. “We just arrived early morning from our month-long vacation. We just dropped our luggage at home and came straight here because we want to participate in next year's election,” they said. Filcom leader Ed Katimbang was the last OFW to register and said he waited for the last day of registration to know the total number of registered voters. Katimbang felt sad at the low turnout and urged fellow OFWs to participate in the next registration wholeheartedly. Ausan thanked the group of the Sangguniang Masang Pilipino International Incorporated (SPMII), Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital, Kaagapay ng Bawat OFW, KASAPI (Kongreso ng Kapulungan ng Samahang Pilipino) and other individuals who helped in the overseas absentee voting registration.
