The Mobile Consular Team of the Embassy of the Philippines in Wellington rendered its second mobile consular service for 2016 in Ashburton, New Zealand on 12-15 March 2016 at the Conference Centre of the Ashburton Motor Lodge. Vice Consul Glenn Joseph Obach led the Mobile Consular Team, composed of Ms. Ma. Victoria Reyes, Ms. Mary Bel Garcia, Ms. Monette Garcia and Mr. Marc O’Bryan Asilom, in providing consular services for the benefit of Filipinos in Ashburton and the surrounding areas in the South Island. A total of 612 consular transactions were processed during the four-day mission, including the processing of e-passports, notarial and authentication services, reports of birth and marriage, fingerprinting for NBI forms, and citizenship re-acquisition and retention application and oath-taking.

The Philippine Embassy has maintained utilizing the online appointment system in Ashburton, after being pilot tested in Christchurch in November 2015 and in this year’s first consular service in Auckland in February 2016. Satisfied applicants provided positive and appreciative feedback to the Philippine Embassy regarding the online registration system stating that it is prompt and hassle-free. They also said that the system made the service faster with minimal waiting time for applicants.

During this outreach, the Embassy team was also able to respond to consular inquiries by Filipino applicants and strengthened its network with the Filipino community members. On 12 March 2016, Vice Consul Obach administered the oath of office of the new set of officers of the Filipino Dairy Workers in New Zealand, Inc. (FDWNZ): Earl John Magtibay (Chairman), Joel Caranay (Deputy Chairman), Urduja Pasion (Treasurer), Lenie Ramos (Secretary), and Board of Directors, Ida Valerie Casipit, Johnatan Madera, Glen Dennis Prado, Glenn Ramos, Eric Tao-ey and Jon Sungcog.

On 14 March 2016, a Legal Orientation Seminar was conducted at the Seniors Centre, 206 Cameron Street, Ashburton, in coordination with FDWNZ. The seminar’s speaker, Atty. Gene Bagsic, provided free legal orientation to interested members of the Filipino community in Ashburton to promote greater knowledge and understanding of New Zealand’s laws and regulations to assist Filipino workers and students in New Zealand during their stay, work, study and integration in the country.

The Philippine Embassy extends its deep appreciation to the FDWNZ for its support and cooperation that contributed to a successful consular outreach mission in Ashburton. Details of the next consular mission will be uploaded at the Philippine Embassy website (www.philembassy.org.nz) and Facebook (Philippine Embassy - Wellington, New Zealand).