27 April 2016 – On April 24, Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco met with the leaders and members of the Filipino community based in Naples and Salerno.

Present at the meeting were the following community leaders: Ms. Melojean Agustin Galapon, President, Filipino Community of Naples; Mr. Jose Yoro, Adviser, Filipino Community in Naples; Mr. Frumencio Marcos, President, UDFCN 1977; Ms. Priscilla Dimayuga, President, Comunita Filipina di Napoli e Campagna; Mr. Villamor Velasco, President, Filipino Community in Salerno, Italy; Mr. Hill Cruz from Jesus is Lord (JIL); Ms. Leonida Alagon of the Anti-crime group, Pacrup; Mr. Paul Baltazar, Federphil-Naples; and Mr. Joel Manuel, President of FILCOMFEDSI (Federation of Filipino Community in the south of Italy).

Ambassador Nolasco explained to the community the services rendered by the Embassy and the Philippine Honorary Consul in Naples. The meeting also clarified many of the community’s POLO-related concerns. Further, the Ambassador explained the procedures for the mixed automated election voting (personal or postal) being conducted by the Philippine Embassy in Rome and encouraged registered voters to cast their votes. A member of the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG) personally delivered electoral mailing packets to specific registered voters, and received accomplished ballots, in Naples.  

On the same weekend, April 23 to 24, the Embassy in Rome, in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate in Naples led by Honorary Consul Francesca Giglio and the Filipino Community of Naples, Italy (founded in 1977), also conducted an outreach mission in Naples. 

The outreach team – composed of the Embassy’s Consular Section, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) and Social Security System (SSS) – led by Consul General Leila Lora-Santos processed, among others, 341 applications for ePassports and 13 Reports of Birth. Consul General Lora-Santos also administered the Oath of Allegiance to seven former Filipinos who reacquired their Philippine citizenship.

POLO-OWWA serviced a total of 112 OFWs, with 93 OWWA membership processed and 10 assisted for Balik-Manggagawa Online (BM Online). The SSS representative serviced 140 clients.

The next outreach mission is scheduled on April 30 and May 01 in Florence at the Circolo Due Strade, Via Senese 129, Galluzzo, 50124 Florence. END