MANILA, Philippines – Overseas-based Filipinos, who are currently in the country, can now register for overseas absentee voting (OAV) at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas office in Manila.
A mobile center for the registration of overseas absentee voters has recently been set up at the CFO office. This is aimed at making it easier for Filipino immigrants, Filipinos married to foreign nationals and OFWs to register for the OAV.
“The establishment of the OAV registration center in CFO aims to bring the registration process closer and more accessible to our clientele,” CFO Secretary Imelda Nicolas said, in a statement.
The launch was part of the government's renewed campaign to encourage more Filipinos to register as overseas absentee voters.
"We hope to make OAV registration to be more fun in the CFO. As such, our PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar) officers will include in their orientation seminar a segment on what the OAV is all about to encourage our clients to register afterwards,” Nicolas added.
The mobile center at the CFO is the first among the proposed centers that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) wanted to establish in other government offices catering to overseas Filipinos such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Nicolas also called on all departing overseas Filipinos to take advantage of the OAV registration site at the CFO, as well as the up and coming sites in NAIA and POEA.
The launch at the CFO was unveiled through the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the COMELEC and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The mobile center at the CFO office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (no lunch break), Monday to Friday.
Land-based OFWs just need to bring their passport, while sea-based OFWs should bring their seaman's book when they register for the OAV.
Registration activities are also ongoing in all Philippine Foreign Service Posts. The registration period for the overseas absentee voters is until October 1, 2012.
The poll body said qualified registrants need only present their passports when they register at Philippine embassies, consulates and other designated registration centers here and abroad.
The CFO office is located at the Citigold Center, 1345 Pres. Quirino Avenue corner Osmeña Highway (South Superhighway) in Manila.
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