House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms approved on Tuesday the proposed Overseas Voting Act of 2023 (House Bill No. 6770) that would allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to vote via the internet.
“Our OFWs and overseas Filipinos, including seafarers, constitute a significant segment of our society, with their economic contribution and the national honor that they bring to the country, and for the sacrifices they endure while working abroad, leaving their loved ones behind,” OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, who filed the bill, said in her opening speech.
“Therefore, we owe them the best, possible, convenient, and securements to exercise their right of suffrage as valued compatriots as fellow Filipinos,” she added.
The bill will amend the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9189). The counterpart proposal is Senate Bill No. 172 filed by Sen. Francis Tolentino.
Citing data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Magsino said that only 1.69 million of around 12 million OFW voters registered for the 2022 elections, and of the registered voters, only around 600,000 cast their votes.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said he would support the bill as it could improve voter turnout in the next elections.
He pointed out that 700,000 of 1.69 million voters failed to cast their ballot for two consecutive elections, which would lead to voters’ deactivation.
He also stressed that the Comelec spent P470 million on overseas voting — almost P400 per registered voter.
“We spend that much, only to have that 38 to 39 percent voter turnout,” Garcia said. “Maybe we could avail other modes of voting, which is internet voting.”