1.    Applications for Machine Readable Passport (Cost: $50)
2.    Applications for the retention and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship pursuant to Republic Act 9225 or Dual Citizenship Law (Cost:$50).  Oath-taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants.
3.    Passports will be returned to the applicant by mail at an additional cost of $6.

The Consulate will only accept payments in cash, postal money order or cashier’s check. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Application forms and requirements can be downloaded from the Consulate’s website at www.philippineconsulatela.org.

For general information, interested parties may wish to call the Consulate Attn: Mr. Edmund Gidaya at (213) 637-3006 or send an e-mail at losangelespcg@earthlink.net.

For the information of the public, the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the U.S. started to accept and to process applications for Machine Readable Passports (MRP) on June 2, 2008. This is in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its member states, including the Philippines, to issue MRPs not later than 1 April 2010.

While valid green Philippine passports will still be honored as bonafide travel documents until they expire, Filipinos with the Machine Readable Passports will benefit in terms of document security and integrity and ease of travel.

Since applications received by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the U.S. will be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila via diplomatic pouch, it will take six weeks for a passport to be released to the applicants, from the time the application is accepted. Personal appearance for all will be required for data verification, finger-printing and signature capture.  Applications by mail will no longer be accepted.

In compliance with the new photo requirements for the MRP, applicants are requested to visit the Consulate’s website. # # #

* * * * *

Consular Outreach in Las Vegas, Nevada

Los Angeles, 9 September 2008 – The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles is pleased to announce that a Consular Outreach Program will be held in Las Vegas, NV on 4 October 2008 from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm and 5 October 2008 from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm at Seafood City, 3890 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89119 (Tel: 1-702-851-0021).

This outreach program is undertaken in cooperation with the Las Vegas Philippine-American Lions Club, Bikolnon Association of Las Vegas, Filipino American Heritage Foundation, Philippine Medical Association of Nevada and Seafood City.

The following Consular services will be rendered:

1.    Applications for Machine Readable Passport (Cost: $50)
2.    Applications for the retention and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship pursuant to Republic Act 9225 or Dual Citizenship Law (Cost: $50).  Oath-taking will be scheduled on the same day for qualified applicants.
3.    Notarization of documents (Cost: $25) will be accepted but this will be processed in Los Angeles and returned to the applicant by mail at an additional cost of $6.

The Consulate will only accept payments in cash, postal money order or cashier’s check. Personal checks will not be accepted.

Application forms and requirements can be downloaded from the Consulate’s website at www.philippineconsulatela.org

In view of the anticipated high volume of applicants and in order to ensure an orderly flow of operations, this Consular outreach shall be guided by the following:

1.    All Applicants for any of the above consular services are requested to set up an appointment with the Consulate, not later than 1 October 2008, either through fax (213) 639-0990 or through email at losangelespcg@earthlink.net or at telephone no. (213) 637-3023.

2.    Passport Applicants should send an advance copy of their passport application forms and data page (bearing the name and photo) of their passports to the Consulate either by fax or by email. Incomplete forms will not be processed.

3.    Dual Citizenship Applicants should also send an advance copy of their application forms and supporting documents. Incomplete forms will not be processed.

4.    Confirmed appointments of all applicants will be posted at the Consulate’s website (www.philippineconsulatela.org) by 2 October 2008.

5.    While walk-in applicants will also be entertained, priority will be given to those with confirmed appointments.

For general information, interested parties may wish to call Ms. Liza Salvador (Tel: 1-213-637-3023 | visa_pcgla@earthlink.net) of the Consulate, or Mr. Ceasar Elpidio (Tel: 1-702-382- 4337) or Mr. Bernie Benito (Cell: 1-702-528-6298) of the Las Vegas Philippine-American Lions Club.

For the information of the public, the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the U.S. started to accept and to process applications for Machine Readable Passports (MRP) on June 2, 2008. This is in compliance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its member states, including the Philippines, to issue MRPs not later than 1 April 2010.

Since applications received by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the U.S. will be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila via diplomatic pouch, it will take six weeks for a passport to be released to the applicants, from the time the application is accepted. Personal appearance for all will be required for data verification, finger-printing and signature capture.  Applications by mail will no longer be accepted.

In compliance with the new photo requirements for the MRP, applicants are requested to visit the Consulate’s website.

While valid green Philippine passports will still be honored as bona fide travel documents until they expire, Filipinos who are holders of Machine Readable Passports will greatly benefit in terms of document security and integrity and ease of travel. 

All Filipinos, including those with valid green passports, are therefore encouraged to apply for their machine readable passports as early as possible. # # #

* * * * *

PRA Chairman Aglipay Visits Los Angeles

Philippine Retirement Authority Chairman Edgar Aglipay paid a visit to Los Angeles on 4-5 September 2008 to promote the Philippine Retirement Industry to the mainstream American market. 

In the evening of 4 September, Chairman Aglipay met with a large group of Los Angeles-based businessmen including members of the Korean, Japanese and Mexican chambers of commerce over dinner hosted by the Healthcare Coalition Institute (HCI).  He gave a backgrounder on the current Philippine economic situation, followed by a presentation on the developments in the Philippine retirement industry, including updates on retirement facilities being constructed in the PRA's priority investment areas, namely Baguio, Subic/Clark, Manila, Tagaytay, Cebu and Davao.  The Chairman presented three options available to his audience, i.e., as prospective investors, retirees or marketers.

Chairman Aglipay was also among the speakers during the opening of the American International Real Estate Expo and Conference that was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from 5-7 September 2008.  He delivered the same presentation to an audience composed mostly of Filipino-Americans.

The Chairman proceeded to Canada and the US east coast for similar meetings and promotion campaigns. # # #


Information Section
Philippine Consulate General
Trunkline: 213 639 0980
Directline: 213 637 3028
Website: www.philippineconsulatela.org