10 March 2017 — The Philippine Embassy in Ankara touched based with different members of the Filipino community in Istanbul during their second consular mission for the year in the major Turkish city from February 25-26.

The Embassy engaged overseas Filipino workers and student organisations such as Filipino Community in Istanbul (FCI), Filipino Community in Turkey (FCT); Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS); Filipino Medical Team (FMT); Kabalikat-Civicom; and Filipino students based in Istanbul.

The Embassy discussed the vision of the Duterte Administration for the Philippines, the socio-economic agenda and priorities for the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN. Due to the rapid rise in the number of illegal recruitment cases and increase in the number of undocumented workers, the Embassy and the Filipino group leaders agreed to work on information seminars on Turkish labor and immigration laws to aid workers in making informed choices. 

The Embassy also met with members of the Filipino Students in Turkey (FST)-Istanbul Chapter and shared Ankara PE's latest economic diplomacy projects. In turn, the students inquired how they can also get involved in the activities of the Philippine Embassy and suggested that they help in conducting basic financial literacy seminars for OFWs; providing orientations on scholarships in Turkey and arranging a symposium on ASEAN@50.

For the second consular mission in Istanbul, the Philippine Embassy processed over 200 requests for consular assistance. The consular team processed 68 ePassport applications and 19 passport-related requests; 29 requests for notarial and civil registry services; three NBI applications; 50 requests for certificates of registration; 32 overseas voting registration and 17 OV IDs released; nine requests relating to employment contracts; and four ATN cases.

Most prevalent among the ATN cases encountered by the Embassy were illegal recruitment cases allegedly perpetrated by Turkish nationals without accreditation from POEA and Filipino nationals working in Turkey on the basis of their residency permits. A number of these workers admitted that they were recruited from third countries like Dubai, Lebanon, Qatar or Hong Kong, lured by the supposed high salaries in Turkey, which however they do not receive when they arrive. END