Third Secretary and Vice Consul Melvin C Almonguera (left) and Culture Attache Richard Billedo (right) at the Philippine Embassy in Doha yesterday. Salim Matramkot
BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: An official of the Philippine Embassy has reminded his compatriots in Qatar of the significance of exercising their right to suffrage in shaping the country’s future amid the low turn-out of registrants for the Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) which started yesterday.
“Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of our country. Don’t think one vote is insignificant; your vote can affect the outcome of the elections,” said Third Secretary and Vice Consul Melvin C Almonguera, urging Filipinos here to fulfil their important obligation to their country.
Based on the Certified List of Overseas Voters in Qatar of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) there are a total of 23,260 registered voters here, a far cry from the total population of Filipinos in Qatar which is over 200,000.
Although there has been no study conducted yet, Almonguera said the unique situation here could be the factor for the low turnout in registration and of voters in previous elections. “It requires more effort to vote here than in the Philippines,” he said adding requesting for off day and traveling to the Embassy as some of the hurdles faced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
Qatar is not the only country where low turnout of voters is observed. It has been a trend in all countries around the world where OAV is being held. In the 2010 elections only 25.99 percent of Filipino absentee voters around the world cast their votes.
“Maybe OFWs have not yet seen the link of their votes to the results of elections and to the progress of the country,” he said.
Nikki Pascual-Serafica of the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel)- an election watchdog in the Philippines, was of the same view on the issue saying there is lack of interest among OFWs to participate in the elections.
“OFWs may have not yet realised it but their vote counts. Election is a great equaliser because whether you are rich or poor you only get to vote once. In the Philippines where there is multi-party system, every vote counts,” said Serafica. The best way to articulate one’s concerns to the government is by electing one’s own representatives to the government; that’s the best way to make voices heard, that’s why voting is very effective in bringing about change, she said.
“If you don’t vote, don’t complain. Don’t complain to the government if you yourself is not doing your right and obligation as a citizen to cast your vote. Other people vote for people you don’t like so vote for the candidate that you like,” she added.
Manuel Teclere, one of the voters, said he voted because he wanted a change in the system for the better.
“The President has already started a good system. I hope it would continue so Filipinos won’t anymore have to go abroad,” said Teclere, who has been in Qatar for 26 years and has been an absentee voter ever since OAV started.
But with extensive campaign done by the Philippine Embassy, Almonguera is optimistic there would be higher turnout compared to last election.
“We have already got in touch with various Filipino organisations on the proposed sites where we are going to conduct field voting, including Al Khor, Dukhan, a gathering of evangelicals and at the Catholic church,” he said.
“We have maximised all the avenues to promote the elections through all Filipino organisations and media. In addition we also remind all those who come to the embassy of their obligation to vote. We hope turnout will be better than in the previous elections,” he said.
Casting of votes is held daily at the Embassy from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Voting will close on May 13 at 2pm. The Peninsula
