PHL consulate in San Francisco, CA lists at least 2,000 absentee voters

Efforts to get expatriate Filipinos to register as Overseas Absentee Voters (OAVs) in next year’s national elections have reached a milestone of sorts in San Francisco with the registration of the 2,000th voter there.   The number of registrants is, however, a small fraction of the roughly 517,000 Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in northern California, according to consulate figures citing the US 2010 census.   Northern Nevada and seven states in the western US are also in the jurisdiction of the consulate in San Francisco. The total census count of Filipinos in the consulate’s jurisdiction is nearly 680,000.   The Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco identified the 2,000th OAV registrant as Marietta Ante, resident of Hayward, California.   “Filipino citizens or dual citizens, of at least 18 years of age, are encouraged to register as overseas absentee voters so that they may also exercise their constitutionally protected right to suffrage,” the DFA said.   The DFA encouraged Filipinos overseas – not just in California, USA – to register by visiting the Consulate General at its main office or at its outreach locations worldwide.   Applicants may bring a copy of the latest Philippine Passport for Filipino citizens, or Oath of Allegiance or Identification Certificate for dual citizens. OAV registration began last year on Nov.2 and will continue up until Oct. 31 this year.   The DFA said that those in California with queries on OAV and other consular matters may reach the Consulate General at (+1)415-4336666, or may be e-mail at  info@philippinessanfrancisco.org.   The website or Facebook page of the Consulate General in San Francisco may also be visited at www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or www.facebook.com/PCGSF. — Marlon Anthony R. Tonson/ELR, GMA News