Philippine Embassy in Vienna

The Philippine Embassy in Vienna announced that it is accepting applications for registration/certification of Filipino Overseas Absentee Voters (OAV) that started February 01, 2009 to August 31, 2009.

Filipino citizens residing in Austria, Croatia, Slovenia and Slovak Republic, are requested to register at the Philippine Embassy in Vienna.

In her circular letter addressed to all leaders of the Filipino Community in Austria, Minister and Consul General Maria Teresa Almojuela urged all Filipino citizens living in Austria who are qualified to vote in the 2010 National Election to file their applications Mondays through Fridays (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) except during Philippine holidays.  Applicants must bring with them their Philippine passports. Almojuela pointed out that in case of lost passport, the applicant must bring other documents to prove their identity and citizenship.

“I  want to encourage my fellow Filipinos here in Austria  to avail this right in order to make a difference by having a greater role in the political process," Teresa Chan, a Filipina working in a popular fast food chain in the city told ABS-CBN  news. “It’s one way for us to perform our duty as Filipino citizens," Chan added.

Reynaldo Samonte, a businessman in the country is very much eager to exercise his right to vote though living in another country.

“Whether I’m in Austria or anywhere else in the world, I should be able to vote because I’m sending money back to my family and contributing a lot to the economy back home," Samonte said.

Samonte added that overseas Filipino workers should exercise their right to vote because one day they may decide to return to the Philippines.

The ongoing registration is being undertaken in preparation for the National Elections scheduled on May 14, 2010.

Filipino overseas voters in Austria, Croatia, Slovenia and Slovak Republic will cast their votes during a one-month period from 10 April to 10 May 2010. They have a choice of casting their ballot either personally at the Embassy or by Mail.