Consulate Holds Outreach Mission in Westlock
Passport applicants await their turn at the data capturing machines manned by Consular Assistants Norberto Dela Rea and Earl Alonzo at the Consulate’s outreach mission in Westlock on 21-22 October 2017.
21 November 2017 WESTLOCK – Philippine Consulate General in Calgary led a Consulate team on an outreach mission to Westlock, Alberta on October 21 to 22, providing passport and consular services to more than 200 Filipinos in the town and surrounding areas.
The outreach mission, held at the Westlock Inn, was organized in cooperation with the Duterte Volunteers of Alberta headed by Mr. Benjamin Lindo.
During the two-day outreach, the Consulate was able to process 222 passport renewals, 11 notarial services, five civil registrations, and six dual citizenship applications. Of the six applicants for dual citizenship, two were able to join six others who had submitted their Dual Citizenship applications prior to the outreach in taking the Oath of Allegiance.
Volunteers from the Duterte Volunteers assisted the Consulate team in the outreach mission by finding the appropriate venue for the outreach and publicizing the outreach mission through their community organizations and social circles. They also acted as ushers during the outreach mission and ensured the orderly flow of people at the venue.
Westlock is an agricultural town located around 380 km. north of Calgary, or around 90 km. north of Edmonton. Filipinos in the area work mostly in the services sectors (restaurants) and in farms around the town.
During the outreach, Consul General Torres attended a town hall meeting in Edmonton between Filipino small-business owners there and Filipino-Canadian Senator Tobias C. Enverga, Jr. and Mr. Kelly McCauley MP to discuss new federal taxes being proposed by the federal Liberal government and their possible impact. Consul General Torres thanked Senator Enverga and MP McCauley for their participation at the town hall meeting and commended the organizers for their initiative to assist Filipino entrepreneurs in Edmonton obtain a deeper understanding about the new federal taxes. He also hoped that the town hall meeting spurs Filipino-Canadians in Edmonton and other areas of the province to be more active in civic and political affairs. Consul General Torres was also the guest speaker, along with Senator Enverga, at the 35th Anniversary celebration of the Edmonton-based Filipino Senior Citizens Association (FSCA). END
For more information, visit www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph.
Consul Eric Aquino administers the Oath of Allegiance to eight new dual citizens at the outreach in Westlock.
Consul General Torres (3L), Filipino-Canadian Senator Tobias C. Enverga, Jr. (7L) and Mr. Kelly McCauley MP (6L) pose with attendees after the town hall meeting with Filipino small-business owners in Edmonton on 21 October 2017.