JEDDAH, 29 September 2004 — Good news for Filipinos in Jizan and nearby towns who have yet to claim their voter’s IDs. A team from the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah will be bringing the IDs to Jizan tomorrow for distribution to those who have registered for the Philippines’ absentee voting exercise.
Consul General Pendosina Lomondot instructed his staff to prepare the IDs for distribution in response to a request by OFWs in far-flung areas.
The workers, including those in Jiazan, said they do not have the means to travel to Jeddah just to get the ID which they need to use only during Philippine national elections.
Consul General Lomondot urged the OFWs in Jizan, however, to call the consulate or their coordinator in the area today so that their IDs would be located and brought there by the team. “We are calling all registered Filipino workers in Jizan to take advantage of this opportunity to collect their voter’s IDs,” he said.
For those who have access to the Internet, they can first check Commission on Election website below if their name appears in the list of those registered for the OAV in Jeddah.
To go direct to the Jeddah list, the URL or address is: http://www.comelec.gov.ph/announce/oavlist/ksa_jeddah01.html.
According to the consulate, if your name appears in the list, you are requested to register with the consulate through Carol Tejero.
Consulate officials said this has to be done because the consular team cannot bring the entire pack of unclaimed IDs to Jizan. Carol Tejero could be reached at (02) 667-0925; 660-0348 ext. 210. The other contact person is June Guevarra (Jizan coordinator) at 05023-08071.
The consular team will hold temporary office at Al Atheel Hotel from Wednesday to Friday to render consular services such as passporting, labor, and welfare assistance, among others.
Apart from the consular services, leaders of OFW Cooperative Council (OFWCC) from Jeddah will be conducting a business opportunity seminar for interested Jizan OFWs on Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
For application forms, please call Rosie Camacho at (07) 332-0221; 05027-12243; Aga Aganan, 05012-27145; and Al Morales (07) 325-0522 ext. 3917.