- In October 2000, remittance from OFWs dropped by 28 percent. Calls for non-remittance
(to protest Estrada's stay in power) and the continuing devaluation of the peso were
identified as factors.
- During the first 7 months of 2000, OFW remittances from the U.S. reached $2.4 billion,
by far the biggest source of revenues from overseas Filipinos. Other sources lumped
into regions: Asia - $453.7 million, Europe - $323 million, and the Middle East -
$172.3 million.
- Remittances by country and growth from previous year (same period as above): Saudi
Arabia - by 112 percent from $62.44 million to $132.9 million; Italy - by 79 percent from
$56 million to $100.5 million; Taiwan - by 293 percent from $20.4 million to $80.1
million; and Germany - by 9 percent from $57.8 million to $63 million; The United Kingdom
by 5.3 percent from $48.2 million to $50.8 million; Greece - by 178 percent from $10.71
million to $29.8 million; Switzerland - by 89 percent from $11 million to $20.9 million;
and United Arab Emirates - by 16 percent from #12.4 million to $14.5 million; Luxumbourg -
by 11 percent from $113,000 to $12.99 million; The Netherands - by 61 percent from $5.9
million to $9.7 million; Norway - by 10.9 percent from $7.9 million to $8.8 million;
Israel - by817 percent from $663,000 to $6 million; and Belgium - by 180 percent from
$1.59 million to $4.45 million; Sweden - by 196 percent from $1.08 million to $3.2
million; Denmark - by 57.8 percent from $1.8 million to $2.8 million; Spain - by 34
percent from $642,000 to $2.8 million; New Zealand by 2,109 percent from $49,000 to $1.08
million; and Japan - by 51.1 percent from 136.99 to $208.45 million.
- Sectors that already avail of absentee voting include the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and government officials and employees.
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