PHL EMBASSY IN BUENOS AIRES LAUNCHES “AKYAT BARKO” PROGRAM TO REGISTER FILIPINO SEAFARERS
07 November 2014 – The Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires launched its “Akyat Barko” program with the conduct of its first overseas voters (OV) registration of Filipino seafarers in the Port of Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires on 07 November 2014.
In close coordination with the Argentine Naval Prefecture and the Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., an Embassy team, composed of Second Secretary and Consul Ma. Carmela Teresa A. Cabreira and ATN Officer Marleth G. Cruz-Siman, boarded M/V MSC Alessia, a German flag vessel, to register its Filipino crew. While the ship has a German captain, the majority of its 21-man crew are composed of Filipinos. In the end, the Embassy was able to register a total of 13 Filipinos.
Most of the Filipinos who registered were unaware that such an OV program exists and mentioned that they look forward to exercising their right to vote in 2016.
The Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires continues to encourage all Filipinos in the countries under its jurisdiction (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay) to register. END.
