6 May 2004 - With only four days before the close of voting, Philippine embassies and consulates have given their assurances that they are ready to handle the final surge of overseas absentee voters during the last weekend of the voting period.

Based on partial reports from the Philippine Embassies and Consulates, more than 180,000 have cast their votes with Hongkong and Singapore still leading in total voter tally.

This was disclosed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert today, as she commended the members of the foreign service corps, the attached services, and members of the Filipino community who “sacrificed personal time and even resources just so they could gallantly face up to the challenges of this new and historic mandate”.   The Secretary further exhorted them to “fulfill their remaining duties as election officers and deputies of the COMELEC, and ensure that all processes are above board”.

On Sunday, 9 May 2004 at 2:00 p.m., Secretary Delia Domingo Albert will lead the launching of the Joint COMELEC-DFA Overseas Absentee Voting Monitoring and Action Center (OAV-MAC). The Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini will house the Center beginning 10 May 2004 until all the initial copies of the counting and canvassing forms shall have been received.

The OAV-MAC will serve as a monitoring facility for the submission of election returns from the Special Board of Election Inspectors and the Special Board of Canvassers from voting precincts worldwide. A total of 577 counting precincts worldwide will be submitting Certificates of Votes to the Center.
 
The Overseas Absentee Voting Act mandates that counting and canvassing of votes be done immediately on site.  This provision of Republic Act 9189 is the result of the various consultations conducted by legislators with overseas Filipino communities. END.