Debit Cards Now Accepted for Payment at the PH Embassy in The Hague

THE HAGUE 21 March 2022 — The Philippine Embassy in The Hague has commenced the acceptance of debit cards for payment of consular fees, in a bid to enhance its services to the public.

“It has been the Embassy’s cherished dream to introduce payment via debit card for the added convenience of our clients, as many people these days no longer carry cash. It is also a health measure for the protection of our clients as well as our staff members,” Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya said.

Through this service, the Embassy continues to adapt to the needs of the public by acknowledging the use of debit cards as the most common mode of payment in the Netherlands and many other countries. Cash payments are still accepted, as before.

Previously, consular clients who did not bring cash had to go outside of the Embassy in search of the nearest ATM machine. This could be time consuming and problematic especially during winter.

Ms. Roshaolin Nuqui was the first client to avail of the cashless transaction when she renewed her passport. Ambassador Malaya and Consul General Lolita Capco witnessed this landmark transaction, which was facilitated by Finance Officer Hy-Noon Galabay and Collecting Officer Liza Yepes.

“Thank you, Philippine Embassy, for making consular transaction payments more efficient and hassle-free for your clients and community members,” community leader Agnes van de Beek-Pavia said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs recently issued guidelines allowing alternative modes of payment for consular services at Philippine Embassies and Consulates General. Possible alternative modes could include payment through debit/credit card processed via a point-of-sale terminal, electronic fund transfers, e-wallets, mobile/online banking, and the like. END

For more information, visit https://www.thehaguepe.dfa.gov.ph or  https://www.facebook.com/PHinTheNetherlands/.