19 November 2014 – The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney conducted a Consular Outreach Mission on November 15 to Newcastle in New South Wales, around 160 km from Sydney Central Business District. The Consulate General team comprised of Consul Marford M. Angeles, Ms. Regina Queenie S.J. Perol, Ms. Erlinda B. Albay, Ms. Jessie B. Llaneta, and Ms. Filipina C. Galicia. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) representative Ms. Lorna Bacolong joined the team to ascertain the welfare of Filipino workers in Newcastle.

The team processed applications for passport renewals, reports of births and marriages, notarials, and NBI clearance, and conducted overseas voters registration. Consul Angeles also administered the oath to 12 candidates re-acquiring Philippine citizenship.

The team members also responded to queries on consular services, dual citizenship and overseas voting, and with Ms. Bacolong of POLO, advised Filipino 457 visa (working visa) holders on labor-related issues.

The consular mission was made possible through the Consulate’s coordination with Ms. Petrona Kelly, Welfare Manager/Complex Case Coordinator, Northern Settlement Services Ltd. (NSS). The NSS assists migrants in Newcastle, Hunter, Central Coast and New England in New South Wales with support from State and Federal grants. Consul Marford Angeles extended the Consulate’s appreciation to Ms. Kelly for coordinating with the members of the Filipino community in Newcastle for the Consular Outreach Mission, and to NSS for making available their office as venue for the consular mission. END