RIYADH, 10 April 2004 — The Philippine Embassy has formed a steering committee to oversee the voting, counting and canvassing after the elections here.
It’s chaired by Minister Mariano A. Dumia, the embassy’s chargé d’affaires, with two members from the Filipino community.
A secretariat and administration committee was also formed to assist those directly involved in the voting, counting and canvassing work.
Volunteers from the community have been tapped as members of the committees and subcommittees.
“They will assist, specially on weekends, in ensuring efficient and smooth flow of elections,” Alex Veloso-Bello, a steering committee member from the community side, told Arab News yesterday.
Various tasks were divided among the subcommittees, such as the issuance of voter IDs, putting up of markers, setting up of equipment and other materials needed in the election, first aid, guides for voters, and security. A desk will also be provided to take up complaints and provide necessary information to voters.
The issuance of provided by the Commission on Elections to registered voters will continue in Riyadh and Alkhobar until the last day of election, May 10.
Officials have said, however, that the Comelec ID is not really needed so long as the voter’s name is in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters issued by the poll body. An Iqama, driver’s license and other identification cards would do.
As the Comelec ID is not really needed, the consulate has suspended the issuance of such IDs, citing lack of manpower.
Bello, who was designated overall coordinator from the community side, said the response of volunteers had been overwhelming.
“I cannot ask for more as far as the cooperation of fellow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for the absentee voting is concerned,” he said.
Bello was one of the members and co-convenors of the International Coalition of Overseas Filipino Voting Rights (ICOFVR), which campaigned for the absentee voting among OFWs.
Earlier, he helped organize a meeting between embassy officials and community leaders at a local hotel here to discuss various issues affecting OFWs, including the plight of stranded workers and the local security situation.
