Skip to main content
Main Secondary Navigation
  • About Ateneo de Manila
  • Schools
  • Research
  • Global
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • News
  • Events
  • COVID-19 Info
Main navigation
  • Learn & Grow
  • Discover & Create
  • Make an Impact
  • Campus & Community
  • Apply
  • Home >
  • News >
  • [Blueboard] Protecting the Overseas Filipino Right to Vote

[Blueboard] Protecting the Overseas Filipino Right to Vote

08 Feb 2022 | Maria Elissa Jayme Lao, PhD

OFW vote

National elections for Filipino voters based in the Philippines is set for Monday, May 9.  Currently, campaigns are in full swing with both candidates and voters navigating the online and/or socially distanced environment which is a huge departure from the usual big crowds, handshakes, and door to door visits. In other parts of the world, overseas Filipinos prepare for the same vote (minus the vote for local positions) in a voting period that begins on April 10 and ends on May 9, which allows for many of our more mobile kababayans to get to an embassy or consulate to vote or receive and mail in their ballot when this is possible.

The longer voting period and the option for postal voting may not necessarily mean an easier time at the polls.  The pandemic context varies greatly across the territories where our overseas Filipinos live and work. Some may be hindered not just by additional covid related measures but also by cultural and geographic limitations.

Of course, the larger question is what the overseas voter might be looking for in terms of better governance for Filipinos based overseas. In 2016, the Center for Migrant Advocacy and the Working Group on Migration of the Political Science Department of Ateneo de Manila University produced a migrant agenda –the O.F.W.S. Agenda for the 2016 presidential elections. The migrant agenda was borne out of a series of consultations with OFWs and aimed to inform and guide the voters in general and the OF voters, as well as the candidates, particularly for national positions, of the aspirations and concrete recommendations to improve the rights and welfare of OFs, OFWs as well as their families in the country and abroad.

In 2016, it revolves around 4 themes with an accompanying situationer and rationale as well as desired improvements and specific proposals:

O: Overseas Foreign Service posts become "institutions of care"

F: Families of OFWs are provided social and psychological safety nets

W: Workers' rights are treated as human rights

S: Sustainable jobs are created back home

Late last year, the same group (with support from FES)  revisited its OFWS agenda with migrant workers groups and reflected on what an OFW agenda might need, in addition to the issues raised in 2016.  A more nuanced understanding of the OFWS agenda arose out of these discussions with stakeholders noting that:

  • Philippine government, members, regardless of focus and location must have knowledge of the plight of Filipinos abroad
  • Mechanisms for monitoring of the wellbeing of families of OFWs are very much needed, especially in the context of this pandemic
  • Pre departure information, as well as timely information abroad, when done well, can be an integral part of protection of overseas workers rights
  • More pathways towards return reintegration should be created and sustained

In choosing candidates who truly support the OFWs agenda, must be knowledgeable about the facts and realities of the life of the Filipino overseas to truly care about their plight. Good policy and good institutions begin with a clear understanding of these realities.  A closer look at publicly available debates and pronouncements by national candidates will bring to light which of them are truly present and truly equipped to respond to the needs of Overseas Filipinos.

Finally, we must continue to watch the electoral process, including the requirements to run the OFW vote. This means fully capacitating the government agencies with the proper budget to run the almost one-month OFW voting period, and all the requirements (including postal voting) that go with it. To illustrate, for this election, COMELEC requested Php 510M for implementation of overseas voting; they were given only P111,192,000 (only 21.8%) even though COMELEC spending was on track in 2019.  In contrast to the budget allotted for the right of overseas filipinos to vote, Overseas Filipino personal remittances reached record highs in 2019 at USD 33.5 billion and despite the pandemic was at USD 31.59 B in late 2021.

Without this first step done right, we run the risk of disenfranchising the OFW sector, who has contributed much through continued remittances even during the most difficult times in the pandemic.

Dr. Maria Elissa Jayme Lao is an Assistant Professor of the Ateneo Department of Political Science with a Masters in International Studies (MIS) from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. She earned her DPA (Doctor of Public Administration) from the National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman. Her research interests are in International Relations, Electoral Politics, Political Parties, Philippine Foreign Policy, and Migration.

Blueboard logo

 

Elections and Democracy Political Science International University School of Social Sciences
Share:

Recent News

Traffic Bulletin: Katipunan Avenue-Southbound Zipper Lane (CSMO Advisory)

30 Sep 2023

Traffic Bulletin: Dismissal Schedule – 2 to 6 October 2023 (CSMO Memo)

29 Sep 2023

Blue Eagles win 5 championships at Jesuit Athletic Meet; amass 42 golds, 20 silvers, 21 bronzes

29 Sep 2023

Ateneo still top Philippine school in 2024 THE World University Rankings

28 Sep 2023

Reminder: Gate Pass Sticker Issuance for SY 2023-2024 (CSMO Memo)

28 Sep 2023

Ateneo's John Gokongwei School of Management and Boston College's Carroll School of Management form partnership in Jesuit management education

27 Sep 2023

Ateneo Art Gallery announces winning artists and writers of the Ateneo Art Awards 2023

27 Sep 2023

Alignment with Green Purchasing Memo # U2324-040 (VPFT-CPO Joint Memo)

26 Sep 2023

ACSEnt connects grassroots social enterprises with mentors

26 Sep 2023

ASHS debaters Ang, Reyes, and Tango are national champs of NAsHDC; Tango is Finals Best Speaker

26 Sep 2023

You may also like these articles

1

September 22, 2023

IPC SOSS | Gintong Book Award 2023 - Endangered Splendor

Congratulations! 2022 Gintong Aklat Awards Best Book in Arts and Humanities Endangered Splendor: Manila's Architectural Heritage, 1571-1960, Volume 1

PARTICIPATE Forum ID

September 20, 2023

APC presents studies in PARTICIPATE’s forum and workshop on the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections

The Ateneo Policy Center, the policy think tank of the Ateneo School of Government, presented insights from their research studies during a forum titled "Gen

1

September 18, 2023

Online Bahasa Indonesia Language Courses 2023

The Ateneo Center for Asian Studies (ACAS), in cooperation with the Indonesian Embassy, is pleased to announce the first cycle of online Bahasa language courses

1

September 18, 2023

Martial Law @51 Calendar of Events

Commemoration of the 51st Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law Theme: "Martial Law @51: Nasaan Ka, Atenista?" Calendar of Commemoration Events The Ateneo Martial

MIBF 2023

September 18, 2023

Martial law in the Philippines: Lessons & Legacies, 1972-2022 featured in MIBF 2023 event

On September 14 2023, the Ateneo University Press held the event ‘The Missing Link in Martial Law Literature’ at the opening day of the Manila

Xavier Hall University Seal

September 14, 2023

2023 Traditional University Awards (Memo U2324-044)

Memo # U2324-044 14 September 2023 TO: The University Community SUBJECT: 2023 Traditional University Awards The Traditional University Awards of Ateneo de Manila recognize the

Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108, Philippines

info@ateneo.edu

+63 2 8426 6001

Connect With Us
  • Contact Ateneo
  • A to Z Directory
Information for
  • Current Students
  • Prospective Students
  • International Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Researchers & Visiting Academics
  • Parents
  • Donors & Partners
  • Visitors & Media
  • Careers
Security & Emergency
  • COVID-19
  • Campus Safety
  • Network & Tech
  • Emergency Management
  • Disaster Preparedness
Digital Resources
  • AteneoBlueCloud
  • Archium
  • Rizal Library
  • Ateneo Mail (Staff)
  • OBF Mail (Students)
  • Alumni Mail
  • Branding & Trademarks
  • Data Privacy
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • Report Website Issues
  • Ateneo Network
  • Philippine Jesuits

Copyright © 2022 Ateneo de Manila University. All rights reserved. | info@ateneo.edu | +63 2 8426 6001