The Philippine embassy in Doha is expecting more Filipino expatriates to cast their votes at the chancery with five more days left before the actual election on May 9.
“As we approach the last days of the Overseas Voting, we are hoping to finally reach at the most 30 to 35% of the total number of registered voters,” Philippine ambassador Wilfredo Santos told Gulf Times.
With around 44,000 Filipino registered voters in Qatar, the envoy is continuously urging his compatriots to exercise their right of suffrage.
Some Filipino expatriates who are members of different non-governmental organisations told Gulf Times that they are still waiting for the endorsement of their leaders.
Santos said they are satisfied with the response of Filipino voters in the country for the month-long Overseas Voting. The actual election in the Philippines takes place on May 9.
“The fact that we have already breached 12,000 voters which exceeds way beyond the turn out during the 2013 election is already a very positive development for us,” he noted. Qatar ranks second in the GCC in terms of voters’ turnout, second to Bahrain.
The positive turnout of voters in this election was due to a variety of factors, according to Santos.
First, social media such as Facebook and Twitter has enabled voters and supporters to actively participate in campaigning for their respective candidates.
Second, he noted that the Philippine election this year has an interesting line-up of candidates especially for the president and the vice president.
Davao City mayor Rody Duterte, Interior secretary Mar Roxas, senator Grace Poe, vice president Jejomar Binay, and senator Miriam Defensor Santiago are the candidates for president.
“It gives voters a wider array of choices and makes an interesting topic for debate and discussion,” he added.
In addition, the envoy said “the possibility that the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) vote could be a swing vote for any of the lucky candidates gives a sense of empowerment for OFWs that should encourage them to vote.”
Santos also thanked OFWs who already voted for remembering a very important right and responsibility as a Filipino.
He also pointed out that so far they have not experienced any serious problem or technical glitch in the use of vote-counting machines. This is the first time an automated election took place in Qatar for a Philippine Overseas Voting.
Santos added that they expect to have a very smooth canvassing process on May 9 at the embassy.