04 October 2016 — On September 29, Philippine Consul General to Dubai Paul Raymund P. Cortes visited the management offices and warehouse facilities of Makati Cargo Express, a freight forwarding company based in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).  

Makati Express Cargo is perhaps the largest and busiest forwarding company in the U.A.E. providing balikbayan box services. Its shipment departs for the Philippines on a regular, almost daily basis to the ports of Manila and Cebu. It has operated in the U.A.E. for more than 20 years and receives about 3,000 balikbayan boxes per month.

Consul General Cortes visited the Filipino employees of Makati Express Cargo to give a brief talk about the Consulate and entertain queries. He also assured them that the Consulate welcomes their concerns and is most willing to assist or to guide them in the right direction to the office or agency that could provide assistance. Further, Consul General Cortes reminded them to be very mindful of U.A.E. laws. He also invited them to like the Consul General’s official Facebook page where the Consul General regularly posts reminders and updates on Consulate procedures, policies, and clarifications.

The Consul General will be scheduling more visits to the various hotels and accommodations of Filipino hotel employees in order to meet as many of the overseas Filipino community in the U.A.E. as possible, in line with assuring the Filipino people that the Philippine government is trying its best to reach out to its constituency instead of waiting for them to approach the Consulate for whatever concerns they may have.

These visits are complementary activities to the establishment of the Kabayan Corners in various LBC branches, which are hoped to provide an alternative communication for Filipinos who do not have internet access or the means to personally go to the Consulate. END