EU OFWs disinterested in Philippine elections
Many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Europe are not interested in participating in the May 10 elections, the Manila Bulletin reports.
This was the impression that Fr. Edwin Corros of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) got from the OFWs from at least three countries in Europe, namely, Rome, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal; and Berlin, Germany.
“My impression is it doesn’t really matter to them who will be running for president or who are the candidates. Their fear is will this election be a credible one,” he said in an interview.
Corros said majority of the OFWs whom he was able to talk to already lost hope in the Philippine government due to the worsening situation in the country.
“It’s hard to convince them to participate which is very saddening. I really thought they were enthusiastic in changing the government but it seems there’s so much distrust,” he said. “It seems they also distrust the candidates because to them they are no different from those they are replacing. That’s why they are painting this grim scenario.”
The Philippine Embassy in London has been working hard for over a year to register UK based absentee voters. They have had considerable success through close links with the community and Filipino organisations and businesses.
Like many business people involved in the Filipino community in London, Cynthia Barker, Centre Manager of Majestic College, has been a strong supporter of the drive to register her Pinoy students to vote in the Philippine elections.
“We have done our best to make all our Filipino students and visitors at the college aware of their right to vote in the forthcoming elections.” she said.
Are you an OFW? Should OFW’s take more interest in politics back home?What’s your view?
See also:
Philippine Government considering bond sale to OFWs
Philippine Government warns of new recruitment scam
How to ‘check out’ a UK company from anywhere in the world
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