PH Embassy in Berlin Kicks Off 2020 Consular Outreach in Hamburg
Philippine Ambassador to Germany Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega (fourth from left) presents the Embassy’s Certificate of Appreciation to Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG) President Chit Apura-Heitmann (third from right) together with other FFONG leaders and members. (Berlin PE photo)
BERLIN 06 March 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Berlin kicked off its 2020 consular mission schedule in Hamburg on 29 February 2020, where it rendered a total of 161 consular services including passport renewal, certification and notarial services, civil registry services, one-on-one consultations, and overseas absentee voting registration.
The Embassy’s youngest client of the day was a 29-day old newborn whose parents filed for her Report of Birth and passport application.
The five-member consular outreach mission successfully delivered various frontline services with the support of the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG), an umbrella organization of the Filipino communities in Hamburg and Northern Germany, as well as the Kleiner Michel Parish through the assistance of Fr. Philipp Görtz of Society of Jesus and Filipino Chaplaincy Head Fr. Ritchill Salinas of the Society of Divine Word.
Certificates of Appreciation to Filipino Community partners were handed over by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Ma.Theresa Dizon-De Vega during the outreach mission.
Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Welfare Officer Sylvia Gabriel likewise took part in the Embassy outreach. Welof Gabriel conducted three-rounds of orientation seminars on Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) membership and benefits throughout the mission. She also processed the registration of new OWWA members and provided consultations on Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and labor-concerns of Filipino nurses working in Hamburg and nearby areas.
The Embassy’s consular outreach was warmly received and appreciated, despite rising concerns on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), given that the first case of COVID-19 patient in Hamburg was just reported a day before.
In view of COVID-19 concerns, the Embassy provided copies of its latest Advisory on COVID-19 and continuously reiterated reminders on proper hygiene and wellness.
Located about three hours from Berlin, over 1000 Filipinos reside in the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg with an additional 1,000 Filipinos in neighboring cities such as Kiel and Bremen. END
Applicants avail the Philippine Embassy in Berlin’s consular services. (Berlin PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.berlinpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.de or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGermany.