20 October 2016 — The Philippine Embassy in Wellington conducted a mobile consular outreach in Roratonga, Cook Islands on October 8-11.  The mobile consular team was composed of Minister and Consul General Arlene Gonzales-Macaisa, Consular Attaché  Monette Garcia, and Information Officer Ma. Katrina Ciara P. Garcia.

The Embassy Consular Team provided consular services for the benefit of Filipinos in the Cook Islands.  Consular services availed of included the processing of e-passports, notarial documentations, reports of birth and marriage, dual citizenship, and fingerprinting for NBI forms.

The Embassy Consular Team also met with officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cook Islands such as Ms. Tepaeru Herrmann, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Amelia Fukofuka, Director, International Division, and Ms. Kairangi Samuela, Principal Immigration Officer, in two separate meetings to discuss possible changes to the Cook Islands’ immigration policy which will concern the Filipino community as well as other relevant issues.  

The Embassy’s consular team also facilitated an informal forum with the members of the Filipino community in Roratonga towards the end of the Consular Outreach on October 09.  The team responded to consular inquiries posed by members of the Filipino community and strengthened the Embassy’s network with the said community.  The consular team also took the time to visit kababayans at their workplace to inquire about their welfare.

The consular outreach was organized in cooperation with the FilCom Cook Islands’ officers and members led by its President, Mr. Vicente Aydalla. END