20 August 2014- The Philippine Embassy in Prague led by Ambassador Victoriano M. Lecaros conducted a special Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) registration on 16 August at the Embassy’s OAV Registration booth to newcomer Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) of Teleplan.
Ambassador Lecaros said to newly-arrived workers of Teleplan, a Prague-based company currently employing 70 OFWs in Prague with the arrival of 15 new workers from the Philippines, will now be able to take part in the National elections for the Senate and Party-list members of the House of Representatives in 2016.
Embassy’s Attaché Arcangelo Sta. Ana, who facilitated the OAV registration said that out of the 15 newcomers, 11 OFWs registered and one transferee. Consul and First Secretary Juan E. Dayang, Jr. transferred his OAV registration to the Czech Republic from Seoul, Republic of Korea, where he served previously.
The special OAV registration was timed during the Embassy’s commemoration of Apolinario Mabini’s 150th birth anniversary and the launching of the Financial Literacy Education Seminar for incoming Filipinos in the Czech Republic.
An additional 40 OFWs will be arriving in the 4th quarter of 2014 to work for Teleplan. Earlier, the Philippine Embassy reported that Teleplan intended to hire more Filipino workers for their skills and talents and recruit those who were affected by last year’s Typhoon Yolanda.
Consul Dayang, who coordinated the activities said that the Embassy’s objective is “to provide newcomers with a Post Arrival Orientation (PAO) that includes meeting with Ambassador Lecaros and the Embassy and consular team; prepare them in their new lives in the Czech Republic by promoting Financial Literacy and informing them of “dos and don’ts in the Czech Republic and cultural points” and help them integrate without difficulty in the Czech Republic; and by registering as Absentee Voters, allow them to exercise their voting rights in the coming national elections.
Ambassador Lecaros said that “there is a growing number of Filipino migrants to the Czech Republic and Filipino tourists are discovering the Czech Republic”. The Philippines and the Czech Republic has a long history starting from the friendship of national hero Jose Rizal and Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt of Litomerice. Filipinos and Czechs also share devotion to Infant Jesus of Prague.
“We have a growing Filipino population,” Ambassador Lecaros said. From 50 Filipino residents 10 years ago, it has grown tenfold. The Czech Republic is home to more than 500 permanent and temporary residents. It has the highest number of Filipinos compared to Central European neighbors Hungary and Poland.
Ambassador Lecaros said that “we are aiming for 100% registration and we are committed to reaching this target”. Around 100 to 150 qualified Filipinos are not yet registered out of about more than 500 Filipinos in the Czech Republic.
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