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MetroVanIndependent.com
September 2015
News
Palace on planned 'zero vote' campaign:
OFWs could freely choose their leaders
MANILA -- It is up to the overseas Filipino
workers to choose the candidates they
want in the next election, a Palace official
said as a reaction to statements that
migrants organizations are initiating a "zero
vote" campaign against administration
candidates.
This developed as Overseas Filipino
Workers (OFWs) carried out a "zero
remittance day" and some groups
are allegedly planning a zero vote for
administration candidates as a response
to a customs policy on balikbayan boxes.
Remittances from OFWs make up
about a tenth of the country’s gross
domestic product (GDP). In June, cash
transfers rose 6.1 percent to $2.18 billion,
the highest level since December last year,
latest data showed.
June’s result brought the year-to-date
total to $12.08 billion, higher by 5.6 percent
year-on-year.
Remittances are the largest source of
dollar income for the Philippines, which
keeps the peso strong by ensuring the
steady supply of foreign exchange that
local businesses and the government need
for transactions overseas.
“The BSP has worke d hard to
encourage OFWs to send their remittances
through formal channels, so we trust
that this complication can be quickly
addressed,” Tetangco said.
As this developed, Migrante declared
that Friday’s “Zero Remittance Day” was
a success.
“We declare today’s Zero Remittance
Day a success and resounding declara