Expats vote for a better Philippines
By Angel Tesorero and Haseeb Haider
Published: Sun 10 Apr 2016, 12:00 AM
Last updated: Mon 11 Apr 2016, 10:18 AM
The first day of the month-long Filipino overseas voting in the UAE went smoothly on Saturday and had an impressive turnout as compared to previous elections.
Khaleej Times estimated around 400 Filipinos cast their votes in the first six hours after polling precincts in Dubai opened at 8am on Saturday. A consular official noted that this was a 1,000 per cent increase in voters turnout as compared to the first day of the 2013 midterm elections.
Filipinos in Abu Dhabi also turned out in large numbers. "It's a good sign and shows their political maturity," Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Constancio R. Vingno Jr. told Khaleej Times.
Voters in numbers
> Filipino population in the UAE exceeds 601,000 according to latest statistics, up from 574,000 people in 2014
> 122,185 registered Filipino voters in Dubai and the Northern Emirates
> 72,437 registered Filipino voters in Abu Dhabi
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The ambassador said that voters queued up even before the polling had started, which is very impressive, as many of them had a working day.
"Generally our community never comes on time to events and activities and their interest to vote is something very encouraging," he said.
When asked what the most important event of the day was, the ambassador said: "There was a strong 'eagerness' to vote among all the voters, who came here to take part in adult franchise and that is a very significant thing."
The overseas voting will run until May 9 and this is the fifth time that Filipinos in the UAE were given the right to vote. Expats cast their votes in the UAE in the polls held in 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013. There are 72,437 registered Filipino voters in Abu Dhabi while Dubai tops the list among 85 Philippine diplomatic posts worldwide with the most number of registered voters at 122,185.
Worldwide, the number of overseas Filipino voters stand around 1.3 million and they are considered as a "swing vote" in the tight election. They will choose among the five presidential aspirants (Jejomar Binay, Rodrigo Duterte, Grace Poe, Mar Roxas and Miriam Defensor Santiago) who will replace outgoing President Benigno Aquino. They will also elect the next vice-president, 12 senators and a sectoral or party-list representative.
The first to cast a vote at the Philippine Consulate in Dubai was consul-general Paul Raymund Cortes. He said: "We had a very early day. I asked my staff to come as early as 5am and we saw people already lining up for the election. They're very interested and excited to play a part in the Philippine democracy." "We are setting an example to our kababayans (compatriots) not just in the UAE but also back home (in the Philippines) that we are really excited for this election and we are doing our civic duty as citizens and not just (individuals) who send remittance."
"I cannot give the exact number of how many turned up to vote on the first day but I can say that we are very pleased with the way things turned out. Hopefully this can be sustained," added Cortes.
Cortes also remarked that they have already sent a request to Manila to conduct field voting in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah to "bring the election closer and to encourage more people to vote."
Lailyn Cabugsa, secretary-general of migrant welfare group Migrante-UAE, lauded the efforts of the Philippine officials to encourage people to vote.
"It is also very evident that the clamour for change is really strong and it is very inspiring to see Filipinos actively participating in this electoral process," said Cabugsa.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com