Seafarers' Vote Confirms OAV Failure

National (as of 1:28 AM)

Seafarers' vote confirms OAV failure

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

The last seafarers' vote conducted on May 12 in Rotterdam before the Overseas Absentee Voting closed for the tallying of results proved that the OAV failed, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau reported.

Four staff members of the Philippine embassy in the Netherlands drove to the Port of Rotterdam to personally deliver the seafarers’ ballots and to conduct personal voting for Filipinos who were on and off the vessels.

In the Netherlands, Filipino absentee voters sent their ballots by mail. The system implemented, however, was different for seafarers because they had limited time on land.

Thirty Filipinos who went to the International Seamen's Center to vote failed to do so because their names were not on the book of registered seafarers.

A similar incident took place previously when only four out of 80 crewmen from the Pride of Rotterdam were able to cast their ballots when Filipino seafarers first participated in the absentee vote because of the same reason.

The OAV system for seafarers proved to be inefficient because this was the second time that the casting of ballots for ships' crewmen flopped.

According to data sent by the Commission on Elections to the Philippine embassy, there is an estimated 1,400 registered Filipino seafarers in the Netherlands.

What happened was prior to the just concluded OAV was that most of the seafarers were in the Philippines when registration began and they decided to register in their local polling precincts.

Following registration in the Philippines, these seafarers went abroad for their six-month contracts and were aboard international vessels when the OAV started on April 14.

Furious, failure

On board the Danish-registered Maersk, four Filipino seafarers were furious because they were unable to vote even if they insisted that they registered in the Philippines.

“Alanganin naman sa schedule namin na magbakasyon kami eh anim na buwan lang kami. Eh dun kami sa Pilipinas nagparehistro. Nag-open dati noon na dapat magparehistro kami para sa eleksyon (It would be impossible to come home for a vacation because our contracts are only for six months. We registered in the Philippines because they opened up for registration there)," Lowello Sabay said.

Rey Cajiles, another seaman, suggested that since he and his fellow seafarers cannot be in the Philippines during the day of the elections, they might as well be allowed to vote as overseas absentee voters.

He added that there is a big difference between working on vessels and on land. He said overseas absentee voters on land will always be available to cast their ballots at polling centers while seafarers are only allowed a four-hour pass.

Relly Cayanan shared Cajiles's sentiments. “Dapat COMELEC ang mag-aayos nyan. Kasi sila ang humahawak sa lahat (The COMELEC should be the one ironing things out because it has the records).

"He said that the commission should issue permits allowing seafarers at Philippine posts abroad.

Relly Tabuena, meanwhile, suggested that the embassy and the COMELEC make an effort to reach out to seafarers.

“Dapat 'yung nagpapatupad n'yan, sila mismo ang lalapit sa seaman o sa barko, dahil hindi kami permanente sa isang puerto na 'yon. Pwedeng lumapit sila o umakyat sila sa barko (Those who implement the OAV should be the ones to approach seafarers on board vessels because we're not permanent residents at ports)."

Review needed

The seafarers said OAV procedures should be reviewed and improved for the next elections. They agreed that the most effective means of voting for seafarers is the Internet because they are on board ships most of the time.

They added that the Europe-wide restriction for the International Security of Port System makes it difficult for embassy personnel to reach them.Embassy officials, meanwhile, said they are disappointed with the present OAV system.

They, however, are not giving up.

They said that officials did everything possible for the seafarers. What happened was beyond their reach.

Ambassador Romeo Arguelles said that the system can still be improved and that lessons can be learned with a review of procedures in order to assure that the next OAV will be successful.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=77454