PH Consulate General in Shanghai Inaugurates New, Expanded Area for Improved Frontline Services
Top photos: A view of the relocated and expanded Consular Area shortly after completion on 31 October 2022. Bottom photos: Inauguration of the new Consular Area and unveiling of Commemorative Plaque, 19 November 2022. (Shanghai PCG photo)
SHANGHAI 24 November 2022 – The Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai inaugurated its new, expanded Consular Area on 19 November 2022, in rites led by Philippine Consul General Josel F. Ignacio leading the rites.
The new Consular Area, in full operations since 01 November 2022, supplants and substantially improves on the former frontline service space dating back to 2010, located on the far end of the Chancery.
Consul General Ignacio, assisted by Deputy Consul General Marlowe A. Miranda, unveiled the commemorative plaque and entryway to the new Consular Area. Sharing the honors were ASPAC Land Development (Shanghai) Co. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mr. Hector Ty, and Dai-Ichi Electronics Shanghai Co. Ltd. General Manager Ms. Lee Mie Yee.
ASPAC Land, which owns the Metrobank Plaza Building that houses the Consulate General, undertook the improvement of the Consular Area. Philippine audio speaker exporter Dai-ichi, for its part, provided and installed PA systems.
It was the first major renovation of the Consulate General’s premises since it moved to its present location in March 2010. Taking up the space of a former office wing by the Chancery entrance, the new Consular Area is modern, open, airy, and substantially larger. It sets aside 36.84 sq.m. (396.54 sq. ft.) of floor space for clients, with comfortable seating, compared to the previous site’s meager 25.40 sq.m. (273.40 sq.ft.).
The new Consular Area also doubled the number of service counters, from just four windows in the original location, to eight new, well-partitioned counters, each equipped with a two-way intercom system. A new consular service queuing management system was also installed.
“The PCG is a service institution, and the Consular Area is the beating heart of the Mission”, said Consul General Ignacio. “Through this larger, better planned space with improved amenities, we hope to improve the experience of the people we serve,” the Consul General added.
The larger area also anticipates higher client traffic, with travel to the Philippines normalized and with China fine tuning its own travel policies.
Invited to go through the new site, Filipino Community leaders and guests applauded the improved consular facilities and thanked the Consulate General for this initiative. Their reaction echoes feedback received since the commencement of operations at the new Consular Area almost three weeks prior. Filipino and foreign clients availing themselves of PCG’s services have voiced unequivocal praise and approval.
The Philippine Consulate General covers Shanghai and the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Hubei, with an estimated Filipino population of over 7,000. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, the Consulate General was among the Philippine Foreign Service Posts with the highest number of visa applications. END
Consul General Ignacio and Consulate General personnel with Filipino Community leaders and other guests at the inauguration. (Shanghai PCG photo)
Comparison of the Consulate General’s former (1st and 3rd columns) and new Consular Areas (2nd and 4th columns). (Shanghai PCG photo)
Left photo: Consulate General Team at newly completed Consular Area, 28 October 2022. Right photo: New Consular Area fully open and seeing action, 18 November 2022. (Shanghai PCG photo)
For more information, visit http://shanghaipcg.dfa.gov.ph/.