T he Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles has announced the results of the Consular Outreach Programs in National City and City of Carson, California. It also revealed that the COMELEC has widened the Overseas-Absentee Voters’ (OAV) registration for the 2010 elections. Finally, it also disclosed a Consular Outreach in Houston, Texas, on 1-2 August 2009.

* Philippine Consulate General of L.A. Bares Consular Outreach Programs’ Results in National City and City of Carson

V ice Consul Charmaine Serna-Chua and Vice Consul Ruel Gunabe led their respective teams from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles and conducted separate consular outreach programs at the Westfield Plaza Bonita, National City, CA, and Veterans Park Center, Carson, CA, respectively.  Both outreach programs were held on 6 June 2009. 

The following are the number of services rendered during the consular outreach programs:

V ice Consul Serna-Chua was accompanied by the following members of the consular team: Misses Rowena Sierra (MRP) and Mila Verzosa (OAV); and Messrs. Rodel Lomibao (MRP), Adrian Peran (Collecting Officer), and Eric Sierra (Dual Citizenship).

While Vice Consul Gunabe was accompanied by the following members of the consular team: Mr. Elias Balawag (OAV & Dual Citizenship), Mr. Carlo Cabral (MRP), Ms. Lyn Cabral (MRP), Ms. Merle Ordillano (MRP), and Mr. Bernardino Concepcion (Collecting Officer).

The Consular Outreach Program is a regular activity of the Consulate to bring its various services closer to its constituents residing in areas within its jurisdiction. # # #

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* COMELEC Widens OAV Registration for 2010 Elections

In an en-banc meeting held on 19 May 2009, the Philippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC) approved the proposal of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles to authorize all Philippine Embassies and Consulates to enlist qualified Overseas Filipinos as overseas-absentee voters (OAV) irrespective of the applicant’s residence.

This means that any qualified Overseas Filipino may now register as OAV at any Philippine Embassy or Consulate throughout the world. For those wishing to register in Los Angeles, please visit its website at www.philippineconsulatela.org for documentary requirements and downloadable form. Personal appearance is required for those wishing to register.

With 6,228 new OAV registrants as of 8 June 2009, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles  ranks number one among the Philippine Posts in the US and is ranked second worldwide after the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.

With the registration period coming to an end on 31 August 2009, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles appeals to all qualified overseas Filipinos to exercise their right to participate in the Philippine national elections on 10 May 2010 by registering as Overseas Absentee Voter as early as possible at the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

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* Consular Outreach in Houston on 1-2 August 2009

A team from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles will be conducting a Consular Outreach Program in Houston, Texas to be held on 1-2 August 2009 at the Notre Dame Church Community Center, 7720 Boone Road, Houston TX 77072.  Service hours will be from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm.

The consular outreach program is being undertaken in cooperation with the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (PACC Texas) and the Filipino American Council of South Texas (FACOST).

The following consular services will be rendered:

* Applications for Machine Readable Passport (Cost: $50), to be returned to the applicant by mail at an additional cost of $6.

* 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.

* Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) Registration. (Gratis)

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

Please note that these consular outreach programs will not accept application for authentication and notarization of documents since these could be filed with the Consulate by mail.

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:

STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.  No walk-in applicants will be entertained.

All Applicants for any of the above consular services are requested to set up an appointment with the Consulate, not later than 24 July 2009 or until appointment slots are available either through fax (213) 639-0990 or through email at consular.outreach.tx@gmail.com.

All 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.

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

OAV Registrants should also send an advance copy of their application forms and supporting documents.  Incomplete forms will not be processed.

The final list of all applicants with pre-processed applications will be posted at the Consulate’s website (www.philippineconsulatela.org) by 28 July 2009.  Personal appearance is required for all applicants.

All applicants are advised to transact their business directly with Consulate officials and not through travel agencies. 

Private photographers, who are knowledgeable of the photo requirements for the MRP, will be present at the venue during the Consular Outreach for those who will need photos for passport renewal.

For information on consular matters, interested parties may wish to call or email Vice Consul Ruel Gunabe (Tel: 1-213-637-3020 | E-mail: consular.outreach.tx@gmail.com) of the Consulate.

For information on the venue, parties may call Ms. Ethel Mercado, President, PACC Texas (Tel: 1-940-728-2222); or Mr. Tito Refi, Vice President, PACC South Texas Region (Tel: 1-281-415-1400); or Ms. Tess Tuazon, Secretary, PACC Houston (Tel: 1-713-787-1938 | outreachhouston@pacctexas.org).

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 are sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila via diplomatic pouch, it may take six weeks for a passport to be released to the applicants, from the time the application is accepted. Personal appearance is required for data verification, finger-printing and signature capture.  Applications by mail are no longer accepted.

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

While some countries may still honor valid green Philippine passports beyond 1 April 2010 as bona fide travel documents until they expire, most countries will require travelers to be holders of either machine readable passports or e-passport for their sojourn by 2010. 

In this regard, all Philippine passport holders are advised to renew their Philippine passport six months prior to its expiration, in accordance with ICAO regulations, and to secure their plane tickets only after they have received their new passport.

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

Information Section

Philippine Consulate General

Trunkline: 213 639 0980

Directline: 213 637 3028

Website: www.philippineconsulatela.org