GOVPH
MENU

The Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon in charge of voting for Filipinos living abroad visited Hong Kong on 06-10 December 2018 to discuss possible concerns in the upcoming mid-term national elections in May 2019 and to encourage Filipinos in Hong Kong to vote.

Commissioner Guanzon gave assurances on 10 December 2018 to some 70 Filipinos attending a town-hall-style meeting of the accuracy of the electronic voting machines to be used in the month-long balloting process to be held in the sole voting precinct in the territory located in the Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town in the Central District on Hong Kong Island.

She also called on Filipino community leaders to help improve the voter turnout in Hong Kong from the previous record set in the May 2016 presidential elections of 49.86 percent, translating to 46,396 out of the total 93,049 registered Filipino voters in Hong Kong.

Based on confirmed statistics, the 22-month registration period ended in September 2018 with 23,570 new registrants, to be added to the existing 63,754 voters retained from the old rolls for a total of 87,524 enfranchised voters for the period 13 April to 13 May 2019. A total of 29,095 voters listed in 2016 were dropped from the rolls after failing to vote for two consecutive polls.

Commissioner Guanzon also proposed the holding of a concert featuring local and Philippine-based artists in March 2019 under the slogan “Rock the Vote” to stress why it is crucial to vote next year and to familiarize Hong Kong-based Filipino voters with all the senatorial candidates, through online videos, flyers, and public service announcements during the concert.

Prior to the meeting with the Filipino community, Commissioner Guanzon met with the publishers of Filipino biweekly publications and media personalities in Hong Kong, all of whom expressed their support and active participation for the proposed concert.

COMELEC is tasked with administering the elections nationwide, working with the Department of Foreign Affairs to implement the 2003 Overseas Absentee Voting Act, officially known as Republic Act No. 9189, which provides for a system for citizens of the Philippines currently residing or working outside of the Philippines to vote in national-level elections.

Consul General Antonio A. Morales (center left) and Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon (center right) field questions in the meeting between the COMELEC, Consulate and attached agencies’ officials on 07 December 2018 at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.

Consul General Antonio A. Morales (2nd from left) take officials (from left to right) COMELEC Director Wilfred Jay E. Balisado, DFA-OVS Representative Rizzajamila S. San Juan, and COMELEC Director Zita Buena Castillon on an inspection of the storage facility in Bayanihan Centre in Kennedy Town in Hong Kong’s Central District, together with Attache’ Jethro Tull M. dela Cruz, Bayanihan Centre representative Tess I. Ubamos (BKTC Administrator) and Vice Consul Robert D. Quintin.

Consul General Antonio A. Morales (2nd from left) and (left) COMELEC Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, Attachẻ Jethro Tull M. dela Cruz, Vice Consul Robert D. Quintin meeting with publishers of Filipino newspapers and radio personality in Hong Kong at the Philippine Consulate General on 10 December 2018.

Consul General Antonio A. Morales (2nd from left) and (from left to right) Consul Paulo V. Saret, COMELEC Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, Labor Attachẻ Jalilo dela Torre and Consul Roderico C. Atienza field questions from the Filipino community during town hall-style meeting on 08 December 2018 at the Public Area of the Philippine Consulate General.

A Filipino leader asks a question during Q&A session near the end of the town hall-style meeting with the Filipino community in Hong Kong and COMELEC Commissioner and officials of the Philippine Consulate General on 08 December 2018 at the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong.