PHL Consulate General in Jeddah Strengthens Integration of Assistance to Nationals and Consular Services During Consular Mobile Mission in Southwest Saudi Arabia
Consulate personnel encodes the information of applicants for overseas voting.
11 April 2018 JEDDAH – The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah successfully rendered a full range of services to Filipinos in Khamis Mushayt in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia, during its fourth Consular Mobile Services for 2018 at the Mushayt Palace Hotel on March 29 to 31.
The CMS team, led by Consul General Edgar B. Badajos, included representatives from the Consulate’s Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) and Consular sections, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PAG-IBIG, and Social Security System (SSS).
In the course of the three-day event, the consular team brought passport, civil registration, authentication, and notarial services closer to the people of Khamis Mushayt and the neighboring areas.
The Asir Region is roughly 650 kilometers away from Jeddah and is home to about 23,430 Filipinos, the third (3rd) largest Filipino population in the western region of Saudi Arabia. This makes it imperative to bring a full range of Consulate services to fellow Filipinos in the area. Also part of the services rendered was the registration of new overseas voters in preparation for the 2019 senatorial elections in the Philippines.
The Consulate also strengthened the integration of ATN services with the CMS. Consul General Badajos and Vice Consul Alexander Joseph A. Estomo explained to the applicants the services offered by the Consulate’s ATN section, and informed them of the pertinent contact details. Consul General Badajos further explained that incorporating the ATN component in every CMS would ensure that valuable information and assistance can be provided to both actual and potential ATN cases on site to eliminate, or at least minimize, the need for the concerned OFWs to take the costly travel to Jeddah.
A case in point was the immediate rescue of a female OFW whose employer attempted to rape her. An OFW advocate provided the Consulate with vital information which allowed the ATN team to coordinate with the Khamis Mushayt police for the successful rescue of the female OFW.
The Consulate assured Filipinos present of continuing efforts to further strengthen the “One Country Team Approach” to ensure that a full range of services will be brought closer to Filipinos in the western region of Saudi Arabia.
The next CMS is scheduled at the Al-Hamdan Hotel in Tabuk on 13 to 14 April 2018. Those who wish to join may contact Mr. Roger Mendoza through +966 50 238 5325. END
For more information, visit www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/philippine.consulate.jeddah.
Vice Consul Alexander Joseph Estomo, Head of the ANS, shares with applicants the services rendered by the Consulate’s Assistance to Nationals Section.