Embassies not ready for absentee voting — DFA

Many of the Philippine embassies and consulates are ill prepared for the first absentee voting because of limited budget and resources, the Department of Foreign Affairs acknowledged yesterday.

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Merlin Magallona expressed concern that lack of equipment and budget may keep government officials overseas from handling the voting effectively.

"As they stand now, diplomatic posts are not prepared," Magallona said. "It would be desirable for the DFA to make a request to have an estimate of the requirements needed."

If absentee voting is approved by the Senate, the DFA will need additional budget to be able to perform the function provided by the bill.

The DFA has asked all of its embassies to submit an estimate of the expenditure each embassy would require in preparing for absentee voting. The DFA will then include the expenditure in its proposal for annual budget, to be submitted to Congress.

President Arroyo and several lawmakers are pushing for the passage of the bill, which will allow more than seven million Filipinos overseas to vote. If the bill is approved, the first absentee voting will take place during the presidential election in 2004.

There will be no consular service charge to Filipinos abroad when they register as absentee voters.

Embassy officials will be appointed poll officers so they can oversee the electoral process as well as enforce election rules, thus being insulated from political pressure. – Pia Lee Brago