The Philippine embassy in Qatar is optimistic of a large turnout of voters from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Qatar, ambassador Wilfredo Santos has said, citing the role of social media networks in the upcoming national elections on May 9.
During Saturday’s first automated polls for Filipino expatriates in Qatar, ambassador Santos reiterated to Gulf Times the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) target of 80% voters turnout from OFWs.
“The Comelec hopes that 80% of Overseas Filipinos will vote. The fact that we were able to register more than our target of 16,000 new registrants (around 17,500) in Qatar is a sign that we will expect a large turnout this time; in the past, we have seen a turnout of 20% or less.
“There’s a positive sign that we will breach that number. And it also shows that perhaps social media has contributed to this effort to encourage more people to cast their votes. I think this is the first time that social media networks will have an impact on the elections because it connects our people, especially overseas Filipinos in the Middle East,” ambassador Santos explained.
The ambassador said even before 7am, many Filipinos queued outside the embassy to participate in the first absentee voting, which will run until May 9.
“This is a good start to the elections; even before 7am, we already had people lining up to cast their votes. We brought them inside the embassy so they could just wait inside for us to open the polls.
“The fact that we have started early and we have a large number of voters coming to the embassy, even on the first day, is a good sign that Filipinos are more cognizant of the importance of this election to the future of the Philippines, and I welcome that and I welcome our kababayans (compatriots) here to continue to go the embassy.
“We will be open every day until May 9. On weekdays, the embassy will be open from 8am to 5pm, while on weekends they can cast their votes from 9am to 5pm, and that includes holidays, too,” he said.
He added: “I encourage our kababayans to perform their civic duties as a citizen and cast their votes as their contribution to the Philippines. I urge them to vote wisely so that their votes will be counted.”
Asked about the embassy’s preparations for any technical glitches, Santos said a mock election was held at the chancery on April 6, where four Precinct Count Optical Scan machines were used. 
“We did not experience any glitches. We did our final testing and ceiling last Wednesday and the machines are working fine. So far, they are okay,” he said.