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Philippine consulate in Dubai opens labor office amid influx of OFW voters
By JOJO DASSDUBAI, United Arab Emirates –The Philippine Consulate General’s Office (PCGO) here has opened the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to accommodate the growing number overseas absentee voters as the electoral exercise for the May 9, 2022 general election gets underway.
“On Tuesday (this week), we were able to open our precinct at POLO, which enabled us to accommodate more people and cut their waiting time,” said Renato Dueñas Jr., head of the Philippine missions in Dubai and the neighboring Northern Emirates of Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Umm al-Quwain.
PCGO opened at least four field precincts during the month-long OAV for the May 9, 2016 general election. These were located in Karama, Satwa and Deira where there were big numbers of OFWs. At the time, there were 122,953 registered OAVs.
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The PCGO is located in Al Qusais, well into the outskirts of Dubai.
Dueñas indicated that field precincts will be opened this time, saying: “Arrangements (were) underway. We will announce once it is finalized.”
For the upcoming May 2022 elections, Dubai has the biggest number of registered OAVs around the world at 191,779.
Turnout for the first week of OAV was good with some 3,000 OFWs estimated to have voted on the first day, April 10. The first day of voting was held at the consulate before the POLO was opened as additional poling venue.—LDF, GMA News