DFA Office of Consular Affairs Conducts COVID-19 Awareness Seminar

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Neil Frank R. Ferrer thanks Dr. Olga Z. Virtusio for conducting the awareness seminar on COVID-19 at the Office of Consular Affairs at Aseana Business Park last 20 February 2020.

PARAÑAQUE CITY 21 February 2020 — The Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) held an awareness seminar entitled, "Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19): The Agent and the Disease" on 20 February 2020.

The seminar, which was facilitated by Dr. Olga Z. Virtusio, the City Health Officer of Parañaque and the President of the Health Officers of Metro Manila, was broadcasted live to the 35 consular offices of the DFA across the country.

Dr. Virtusio gave a brief history, definition, and description as well as the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. She also shared effective preventive and protective measures against the disease and briefed the team on the various initiatives led by the Department of Health. At the end of the seminar, Dr. Virtusio answered questions from the participants.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Neil Frank R. Ferrer thanked Dr. Virtusio for the invaluable information and insights she shared. Assistant Secretary Ferrer also noted that OCA has implemented measures and initiated information campaigns on COVID-19 to protect the health of the frontline staff and the public who visit the consular offices for passport and other consular services. END