Why is the Government giving the vote of Overseas Filipinos so much importance?
Firstly, Overseas Filipinos constitute an educated voting bloc. Filipinos have to possess a minimum of skill, literacy and education in order to obtain jobs abroad. Moreover, in countries like Canada, not only do Filipinos satisfy the said minimum, an overwhelming majority exceed the standard by a wide margin, being highly educated and highly skilled, with technical, college, university, and post-graduate degrees. Such a bloc ensures votes that are studied, choices that are made after careful scrutiny of who the candidates are, what they stand for, and what they can do for the country and the Filipino people. Secondly, Overseas Filipinos are relatively financially well-off. Jobs overseas mean good salaries, and in developed countries such as Canada, even a minimum legal wage converts to a substantial amount back home. This translates to financial independence, which in turn guarantees a vote that is free of financial considerations. Allegations of vote buying have become endemic to the
