PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL

In our first meeting shortly after assuming as Consul General in New York nine months ago, I shared with colleagues at the Philippine Consulate General my desire to see a consulate that is responsive to the needs of our kababayan in our part of the United States.

At the time of my assumption, New York was just starting to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic that had sent it to a virtual standstill months earlier. The Consulate was among those affected as Covid-19 infections among its personnel and the protocols that were instituted to protect people from the virus disrupted its operations.

For most of the previous year, the Consulate’s ability to deliver consular services was severely hampered. But with more and more kababayan urgently needing passport and other consular services, we knew we had to step forward and rise to the challenge. And we did.

Last night, I shared with the members of the Filipino Community who attended our Pag-Usapan Natin virtual townhall meeting what we at the Consulate have been able to do this year in terms of our efforts to serve our people better.

Our kababayan may wish to know that from a total of 16,792 services extended in 2020, the Consulate was able to increase the number of services rendered to 30,144 in 2021 or an increase of 70 percent. Dual citizenship services went up 161 percent; passports by 93 percent; civil registry by 46 percent; legalization by 45 percent; and visas by 6 percent. Compared to 2019, the number of services rendered went up by 69 percent in 2021.

We also found ways to accommodate our elderly, people with disability, and frontliners as well as kababayan from outside New York through the Serbisyo Sabado sa Konsulado and the Konsulado on the Go consular outreach services, the number of which we were able to double this year. Kababayan with emergency cases were also among those we accommodated.

Aside from improving the delivery of consular services, one of the priorities I shared with my colleagues at the Consulate was for us to be able to strengthen our partnership with the Filipino Community. In 2021, our community engagement went up by 140 percent compared to the previous year with a 1,504 percent increase in in person events we have hosted.

What we were able to accomplish in the past year would not have been possible without the dedication, hard work, and sacrifice of the men and women who make up the Philippine Consulate General in New York. I am proud and honored to be serving with these selfless public servants who are among the best that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) could offer.

What we were able to achieve this year would also not have been possible without the patience, understanding, and support of the Filipino Community. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat for continuing to be our ever reliable partners, especially in our efforts to bring everyone together to work for the common good. Thank you for keeping the spirit of bayanihan alive.

As we prepare to face the challenges of the coming year, including another Covid-19 surge, I would like to assure our kababayan that we in the Philippine Consulate General in New York will remain responsive to the needs of the Filipino Community and will do everything to be able to serve them better.

Isang masaganang bagong taon po sa ating lahat.