DFA, Comelec hold workshop on absentee voting for 2013 polls

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have stepped up preparations for the registration of overseas absentee voters in the 2013 elections. Officials of the DFA Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat and Comelec Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting held a joint planning workshop in Subic last July 29 and 30. "Plans are underway for the launching of an information campaign to encourage registration for the 2013 national elections, and of an intensive training of Foreign Service Personnel who will be tasked with registering Filipinos abroad," the DFA said in a news release. The overseas absentee registration will officially start on October 31 this year, and end on October 31, 2012. DFA Undersecretary and OAVS chairman Jose Brillantes led the officers and staff of the DFA-OAV Secretariat in the workshop. Comelec Commissioner Armando Velasco headed the COMELEC-COAV team, which included Directors Bartolome Sinocruz Jr., Ester Villaflor-Roxas, Eduardo Mejos, Jeannie Flororita, Mariliyn Balbin, Ma. Juana Valeza, Alvond Saldevar, Ryan Rene Allas and Ray Marty Gattud. - VVP, GMA News