Will you accept walk ins?

No. As a policy, all consular applicants are required to have a confirmed appointment prior to coming to the Consulate.

Will there be considerations for ballot drop offs as another option aside from mailing them to the Consulate?

Yes, a ballot receptacle box will be provided at the Philippine Center for voters who wish to personally drop off their sealed accomplished ballots.

Will there be a courtesy lane for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and others with special circumstances?

As a policy the Philippine Consulate General in New York requires all consular applicants to have a booked appointment prior to coming to the Consulate. The Consulate may give exception to meritorious cases, such as those with valid and immediate urgency to their requests. To make a request in case you are unable to book an appointment, you can send an email so we can review the merits of your particular situation to: newyorkpcg.notarials@dfa.gov.ph for Notarization, newyorkpcg.dual@dfa.gov.ph for Dual Citizenship, newyorkpcg.passport@dfa.gov.ph for Passport applications. All requests are subject to evaluation and approval is not guaranteed.

Will the Consulate be open on the weekend of May 7-8?

Yes, the Consulate is open 24 /7 for the entire voting period (including weekends and holidays) from 09 April 2022 to 08 May 2022 for registered voters who wish to personally drop off their ballots at the Consulate. The Consulate will be open on 09 May 2022, the last day for the casting of ballots until 7:00 a.m. Ballots received after 7:00am will no longer be counted.

Will my foreign spouse, who will travel with me to the Philippines, be required to secure additional travel documents from the Philippine Consulate before leaving?

The answer would depend on the intended period of stay in the Philippines and if the spouse is a visa-required national under the Philippine visa regulation. Foreign spouse (as well as children) included in the visa waiver category may avail of the Balikbayan-Program for stays of up to one (1) year. Otherwise, they would need to apply for an appropriate visa.

Philippines Reasserts Enduring Legal Significance of 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award and Role of UNCLOS in Ocean Governance at Forum in New York City

NEW YORK CITY, 31 July 2026 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations, in partnership with the New York City Bar Association (NYCBA), held the forum “Three Decades of the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes under UNCLOS and the Future of Ocean Governance” on 30 July 2026.

In his remarks, Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, described UNCLOS as the constitutional framework for the oceans and highlighted how its jurisprudence has strengthened legal certainty, promoted consistency in State practice, and reinforced confidence in resolving maritime disputes through legal processes.

Consul General Senen T. Mangalile placed the significance of the 2016 Arbitral Award in human terms, urging participants to consider its implications for stakeholders, such as subsistence fishing communities, seafarers, and maritime traders, among others. International law, he added, must deliver tangible benefits to those whose lives and livelihoods depend on the oceans and seas.

The panel was moderated by Victoria Pochtar, Chair of the International Law Committee of the NYCBA, and Professor Jay L. Batongbacal, Director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea of the University of the Philippines Law Center; Paul Reichler, counsel for the Philippines during the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration; Catherine Amirfar, Partner and Co-Chair of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s International Dispute Resolution and Public International Law Groups; Professor James Kraska, Charles H. Stockton Professor of International Maritime Law at the U.S. Naval War College; Senior State Counsel Fretti Ganchoon, Head of the Maritime Group of the Department of Justice Legal Staff; and Ambassador Victoria Hallum, Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the UN.

The panelists highlighted the Award’s continuing legal significance in clarifying maritime rights and entitlements and strengthening the rules-based maritime order. They also discussed how it has shaped Philippine laws, policies, and actions in the West Philippine Sea, together with the challenges of securing compliance and managing maritime disputes peacefully.

Further, the panel underscored the continued relevance of UNCLOS in preventing escalation at sea, protecting the marine environment, and addressing climate change, sea-level rise, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, and deep seabed mining. The speakers also emphasized the importance of bringing together law, science, and diplomacy in responding to these challenges.

In summing up the discussions, Attorney Jane E. Yu of the Office of the Solicitor General emphasized the protection afforded by UNCLOS, the power of the Convention as demonstrated by the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and its ability to address present and emerging maritime challenges. Deputy Assistant Secretary Rogelio Villanueva of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs concluded the program by reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to international law and peaceful dispute settlement, noting that the Award continues to inform the interpretation and application of UNCLOS.

The forum gathered diplomats, international law practitioners, academics, and law students to reflect on UNCLOS dispute settlement mechanisms and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.END