30 January 2006 --  The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  will be conducting registration for overseas absentee voting (OAV) on 02- 03  February 2006 at the Al Bustan Hotel in Al Khobar, simultaneous with the Embassy-on-Wheels consular outreach program.

In his report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla said: “We, in coordination with the Philippine Labor Office in Al Khobar, are encouraging fellow Filipinos residing in the Eastern Region to register to allow them to vote in the 2007 elections.  Registration will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on February 2 (Thursday), and from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on February 3 (Friday).”

OAV applicants are advised to present their original valid Philippine passport.  For those who cannot present their original passports (i.e., under the custody of the employer), applicants must submit a photocopy of the passport and any of the following supporting documents, such as Philippine driver’s license, SSS card, employment card, birth certificate, marriage contract, or other documents to prove their identity.

Ambassador Guinomla thanked the United Overseas Filipino Workers Association headed by Engr. Frank G. Naval for the support it extended to the registration campaign. Thirteen members of the group have already registered.

The Ambassador advised the registrants that the Embassy would post in its premises the list of approved applications/certification for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as overseas absentee voters.
 
Ambassador Guinomla invited those who have registered with the Embassy to check their names in the list or wait for the Embassy’s advice regarding their registration.
 
Ambassador Guinomla revealed that, following the Resident Election  Registration Board (RERB) hearings in December 2005 and January 2006, the total number of approved applications for registration/certification for the period October to November 2005 is 114.
 
Since the registration started on 01 October 2005, Ambassador Guinomla noted that this is an extremely low figure and called on the community to visit the Embassy to register so that they can cast their ballot in the election of 2007.  END