20 September 2013 - A team from the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, headed by Minister and Consul General Edgar Badajos, conducted a consular outreach program on September 14 for Filipinos in the north-central province of Phitsanulok.  There are an estimated 80 Filipinos in the said province, most of whom are working as teachers.

During the program, the team processed applications for passport and legalization of documents.  While the consular service was going on, Minister Badajos discussed the ASEAN Community to clear up certain misconceptions about visa, work permit requirements, and eligibility to practice as a foreign professional across the region with the realization of the ASEAN Community in 2015. Many Filipinos in Thailand believe that with the realization of the ASEAN Community in 2015, they can work anywhere in the region without having to apply for a work permit.

Vice Consul Princess Tayao conducted a seminar on Financial Literacy using materials provided by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.  She reminded those present to put their hard-earned money into good use so that they will have a stable and secure future “after life as OFWs.”

Ms. Tayao also discussed the advantages of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Philippine Department of Education that is being administered at the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok for the benefit of Filipino families with children who are going to Thai schools, out-of-school, or home-schooled.  She likewise informed the community of recent improvements in the Embassy’s official website and Facebook page to make these more accessible to the public and user-friendly.

The Filipinos in Phitsanulok were very appreciative of the Embassy’s outreach program.  It was the Embassy’s second consular outreach program in the province, following the first outreach in 2010. END