DUBAI // Filipino groups could pick a new leader this month, when Alan Bacason faces re-election for his post as president of FilCom.
Six new members of the 12-person governing council will be chosen on August 24, in a secret ballot of the 80-plus groups that make up FilCom, which represents Filipino groups in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
The shortlist of 15 candidates who garnered most nominations from FilCom members will be named tomorrow.
Voting will take place at the Philippine overseas labour office in Al Ghusais, Dubai. The winners and the six members elected last year will choose, in a series of secret write-in ballots, a new president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and internal auditor.
FilCom supports the programmes and activities of the Philippine consulate in Dubai and aims to foster unity among Filipinos in the Emirates.
Last year, the biggest talking point in its elections was a project to build a Filipino social centre. It was largely the brainchild of Analiza Magno Concepcion, the former chairwoman of FilCom, who left in June last year. Since her departure, it has slipped down the agenda.
"Although it's doable, it's a very tall order," said Mr Bacason, who represents the Filipino Human Resources Practitioners' Association. "I don't think it can happen in just one year but we can start working on it this year."
A higher priority, he said, was the community's concerns over red tape at the Philippine overseas labour office in Dubai concerning overseas employment certificates (OECs), the documents needed by Filipinos to go on holiday.
"Community members are wondering why we need to fill out the form each time we apply for an OEC," Mr Bacason said. "Why can't our details be entered in the system so the next time we obtain a certificate, officials could just print the form and we can sign it?"
Delmer Cruz, the labour attache, said last week that his office would review the system, and may recommend to the Philippine overseas employment administration in Manila that it simplify the forms.
