PH Embassy Works with Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Protection of Filipino Nationals

Consular officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo led by Consul General Charmaine Serna-Chua (foremost, second from right) welcomed the visiting delegation from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. (Tokyo PE photo)

TOKYO 30 September 2019 — To discuss the requirements imposed by the Philippine Government upon Japanese nationals entering the country as well as the updates on the Philippine electronic passport, key officers and staff of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Passport Unit visited the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo on 12 September 2019.

The Embassy’s Consular section and the visiting delegation had an exchange of views on the admissibility of Japanese nationals into the Philippines, visa requirements for Japanese nationals who wish to stay longer in the country and the immigration inspection procedure for foreign nationals at ports-of-entry.  

The delegation also requested for a basic briefing on the security features of the Philippine ePassport to allow them to detect fraudulent and tampered travel documents which are routinely presented to them as a form of identification.

Consul General Charmaine A. Serna-Chua relayed to the visiting delegation, which was jointly headed by Passport Issuance Consultation Advisers Chiaki Sato and Hiroshi Tsuji, Ambassador to Japan Jose C. Laurel V’s appreciation for the Metropolitan Government’s continuing engagement with the Embassy.

Consul General Serna-Chua also underscored the importance of close coordination between the Embassy and the Metropolitan Government to ensure the protection and safety of Filipinos living in Tokyo. 

After the briefing, Mr. Sato invited the consular section to visit the passport office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government where technologically advanced Japanese passports are printed and produced. END

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Thomas Philip C. Aquino (leftmost) informs the delegation that the Philippine ePassport bears a contactless chip which stores the holder’s facial image and personal data. (Tokyo PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.tokyo.philembassy.net or https://www.tokyope.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJapan/.