14 January 2015 – Personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Santiago, Chile went aboard M/V Western Ehime and M/V Erhan on November 10 and November 19, 2014, respectively, to register Filipino seafarers for overseas voting in preparation for the 2016 national elections. Both ships had an all-Filipino crew and were temporarily docked at the port of San Antonio in Chile.

Vice Consul Raisa Mabayo and Mr. Edgar Guinto, who were warmly welcomed by the seafarers on both vessels, were able to register a combined number of 37 voters.

The seafarers expressed their appreciation for Philippine Ambassador to Chile Maria Consuelo Puyat-Reyes and the Embassy’s efforts in providing the opportunity for Filipino seafarers to register for the upcoming elections and informing them of the ways through which they may exercise their right to vote considering the mobile nature of their profession.

The Philippine Embassy works closely with the Chilean authorities in order to ensure that ships with Filipino crew passing through the San Antonio port are made aware that the Embassy may conduct overseas registration aboard their ships.  END