NOW, Filipinos working abroad will have an easier time to register as Overseas Absentee Voters (OAVs) following the opening of a registration center at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday afternoon.

Aimed at increasing the OAV registration to one million in time for the May 13, 2013 elections, the Commission on Elections, aided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), set up the registration center at the airport, for the purpose of accommodating the some 300,000 registrants out of the 10 million overseas Filipino workers spread across the world.

Meanwhile, MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said the MIAA is more than happy to assist the Comelec and DFA in promoting the welfare of the OAVs. He expressed hope that similar registration centers can also be put up at the NAIA Terminals 2 and 3.

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle, chairperson for the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV), said that by placing the registration centers right at the airport, OFWs will have an easier time to register as OAVs since they can do it right at the airport prior to their departure.

Tagle said there are two registration booths conveniently located at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Lounge which is situated at the rightmost wing of the NAIA Terminal 1. The registration center complements the other services OWWA Lounge offers to OFWs.

For his part, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Brillantes said the registration centers at the airport will give OFWs a chance to register so they can vote while abroad.