20 June 2014- Philippine Consul General Marichu Mauro paid a courtesy call on the Prefect of Milan, Francesco Paolo Tronca on June 18. Consul General Mauro started off the meeting by thanking the Prefect for the close collaboration between his office and the Consulate General over the years.

As Prefect, Mr. Troncaendeavors to bring the foreign communities close to the Italian Government, particularly paying attention to the various activities of all the communities including consular representative offices. He complimented the Filipino community by describing it as very active and hardworking.

The Prefettura (Office of the Prefect) is a local agency of the Ministry of Interior that acts on behalf of the Central Government in performing the State’s local administrative functions and supervises the administrative activities of the local authorities.

This office is responsible for the legalization of documents, granting of Italian citizenship to foreign nationals, and processing of documents for family petition, direct hires and amnesty applications.

Both officials assured their continued mutual support and collaboration in activities geared towards the welfare of the Filipino community in Milan. The Italian official agreed to the Consul General’s request for the Prefettura to conduct a seminar in order to address common problems on administrative procedures encountered by the Filipinos in Milan.  END