BUDGET Secretary Butch Abad is once again behaving like a lightning rod, this time attracting a surge of criticisms for removing the budget for overseas absentee voting (OAV) in the 2015 national budget.
A huge component of the Filipino migrant workers, particularly the seafarers, will bear the brunt of this latest move by Department of Budget and Management.
Ariel Fernandez, president of the Global Filipinos and Seafarers Outreach Foundation Inc. (GLOFISOF), weighed in on the controversial issue.
“It is the height of irony,” he said, “ that as we celebrated the National Seafarers Day last September 30, 2014 supposedly a day to recognize the sacrifice and contributions of seafarers to our country, the DBM decided to slash the 2015 budget to the prejudice of the voting rights of OFWs.”
Fernandez pointed out that the country’s maritime industry was expectant and looking forward to internet voting which the COMELEC earlier announced would be pilot-tested in 2016 national elections for the benefit of Filipino seafarers abroad.
Even Commission ong Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. was quoted as saying, “What we want is internet voting for seafarers since they are at sea and they can easily cast their votes online.”
All this will amount to nothing if Congress fails to restore the fund allocation for overseas voting in the proposed 2015 national budget.
Lawmakers championing the cause and rights of Filipino migrant workers are up in arms against this unilateral and arbitrary move by DBM.
OFW Family Party-List Representative Roy Seneres chided the DBM.
“The amount sought is a mere drop in the bucket if compared to the OFWs’ contributions to the national economy. Scrimping on P89 million to deny our overseas workers their right to suffrage is simply a silly idea and irrational,” he said.. DEEP FRIED/RAUL VALINO
.. Continue: Remate.ph (source)
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