19 July 2016 - The Philippine Embassy in Athens, led by its Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Minister and Consul General Rosario P. Lemque, convened a meeting of the Filipino Community (Filcom) in Athens and Greece, to conduct lectures on drug awareness, civil registration, disability benefits and human trafficking and smuggling.  The meeting was held at the Philippine Embassy Chancery in Athens on July 17.

The lectures/briefings were conducted by the following:

1.         Drug Awareness

As part of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) commitment for the successful implementation of the National Anti-Drug Plan of Action (NADPA) 2015-2020, the Philippine Embassy invited members of the Hellenic Police to brief the Filipino Community (FILCOM) on the harmful effects of drugs, the Greek government’s drug action plan and how to report the proliferation of drug pushers in the community.

The briefing was conducted by P/Major Ioannis Karydakos of the General Investigation Unit, Narcotics Subdivision, Attica Security Directorate, Hellenic Police. He was accompanied by P/Captain Ilias Tsagkaridis.

2.         Civil Registration

In compliance with Proclamation No. 1106, declaring 2015-2024 as Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Decade in the Philippines, Mr. Rommel B. Quisao, Consular Assistant, Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Officer and Attaché, conducted the lecture on Civil Registration, with specific emphasis on Reports of Birth (ROB), Reports of Marriage (ROM), and Reports of Death (ROD)

3.         Disability Benefits

In observance of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, which is celebrated from July 17 to 23, Mrs. Rosalia Susana S. Bahia-Catapang, OWWA Welfare Officer, POLO-OWWA Greece, gave a presentation on the benefits provided by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to its members, with specific emphasis on disability benefits requirements

4.         Human Trafficking

Ms. Sheila Marie C. Tario, Second Secretary and Consul, lectured on Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling, in view of the forthcoming 2016 World Day Against Trafficking Celebration on 30 July 2016.

An open forum/question and answer portion was held immediately after the presentations. END