22 April 2004 — Following the opening of voting centers for sea and land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert has directed all Philippine embassies and consulates abroad to make continuous representations with foreign employers who maintain a large number of Filipino workers to allow them to vote.

“This is a historic event for all Filipinos residing and working abroad in that, for the first time, they will be allowed to vote in the country’s national elections.  To further ensure that all overseas Filipino workers are given the opportunity to exercise their right of suffrage, I have instructed all Philippine foreign service posts abroad to ask the full cooperation of companies in their areas of jurisdiction which employ large numbers of Filipinos, to facilitate their casting of votes,” Secretary Albert said. “We would be thankful to those employers who, if only for once, would excuse their Filipino workers and allow them to come to the embassy or consulate to vote,” she added.
 
Voting centers for Filipino seafarers opened last March 11 while voting centers for land-based Filipino workers opened on April 11, and will remain open until May 10, election day in the Philippines.

With the approval of the Overseas Absentee Voting Act in 2003, Filipinos abroad were enjoined to register as overseas absentee voters, and are given a period when they can cast their vote.  The law was enacted to give due recognition to the contribution of overseas Filipino workers who annually pump some $6 billion dollars into the Philippine economy. - END