DAMMAM, 18 August 2003 — Registration of Filipino voters for the May 2004 general elections has started in the Eastern Province with Filipino Ambassador to the Kingdom Bahnarim A. Guinomla inaugurating the registration center at the Philippine International School on Friday.
According to the Philippine Embassy, Saudi Arabia has the second largest global absentee voting registration tally. So far 4,059 OFWs have registered in the Kingdom. Of these 2,356 registered in Riyadh while in Jeddah the figure is 1,441 as of Aug. 15. Embassy expects a large registration in coming days.
In the Eastern Province registration started on a high note as on the very first day a total of 262 OFWs registered.
Earlier, Filipinos in Alkhobar and Dammam complained about the complicated registration requirements. “It has to be simplified if the authorities want all the eligible voters to register,” said Eduardo, a Filipino supervisor working in the Industrial City I.
The embassy has sent letters to companies and hospitals in areas where large numbers of Filipinos work. The embassy said registration at all the centers would end on Sept. 30.
Despite the complaints, the Filipino community in Alkhobar and Dammam showed a keen interest in registration.
Scores of people traveled from far-flung areas in the Eastern Province to get registered.