Filipino expatriates in the United Arab Emirates are beginning to turn up in droves to register to vote in the 2010 presidential election, a UAE-based news site reported. Khaleej Times (www.khaleejtimes.com) reported that most of the Filipinos showing up at the Philippine Consulate General are from Dubai and the Northern Emirates. “I am surprised at the turnout. We started late in March, though the registration was supposed to start in February, because our machine was defective. Yet, we are number one in the Middle East. I know more will come as we continue to register (voters) until August 31,” said Philippine Consul General Benito Valeriano. Valeriano noted that Dubai and Northern Emirates host 300,000 Filipino expatriates. He said the average daily registrations reach 90. Philippine officials expect to have at least one million absentee voters register for the 2010 polls. The Khaleej Times report said the turnout swelled to more than 6,000 by last week, considered the biggest in the Middle East and third in the world. Valeriano noted the turnout beat Saudi Arabia, which is host to over one million overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). He said the high turnout is due to the effective dissemination of information of the procedure to participate in the elections. The Khaleej Times report said many Filipinos registered early because the next election would be very important to them. Hopeful of a credible election Annie Labiano, 24, said she registered early in March while securing a Balik Manggagawa Certificate from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) during her annual vacation. “I made sure I could participate in the election of a new president by registering early. I am excited to choose the next president because for the first time, the election will be automated, so chances for a credible election result are great,” she said. Ederlina Arago, 29, who has been working in Dubai for five years, is also looking forward to electing the next president. “I should choose the best among the candidates. It is encouraging to know that this time, the election results will be credible and cheating will be nil as it will be automated,” she said. Overseas voters are allowed to vote for the president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives. Oiler Wilson Sapungen and Danilo Tamayor, Filipino seamen whose cargo ship M/V Poya Kingstone docked at Port Rashid last Monday, are hopeful to register and vote.
