Former Youth Leader is First Filipino to Win City Council Bid in MA

Press Release EGC-003-2022 5 January 2022 FORMER YOUTH LEADER IS FIRST FILIPINO TO WIN CITY COUNCIL BID IN NEW ENGLAND Former youth leader, Constantino "Coco" Alinsug, seated first from left, joins other elected City Council officials of Lyn, Massachusetts. New York, 05 January 2022 - A former youth leader in the Philippines has earned for himself the distinction of being the first Filipino to be elected to a city council seat in New England, the Philippine Consulate General in New York reported. Constantino “Coco” Alinsug, 50, was sworn in on Monday after winning his bid for a seat in the City Council of Lynn, Massachusetts, in elections held in November. He represents Ward 3 in the city, located 15 minute north of Boston. Alinsug, who is a community worker and LGBT rights advocate, is also the first openly gay political candidate to make it to the city council. He previously served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth. “Your feat is worthy of commendation as you are one of a few Filipinos who have been successful in their political aspirations here in the United States,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said in a letter of congratulations sent to…

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Despite Omicron Threat, PCG New York to Continue Serving Public

Press Release EGC-002-2022 5 January 2022 DESPITE OMICRON THREAT, PCG NEW YORK TO CONTINUE SERVING PUBLIC New York, 05 January 2022 - Despite the record-breaking surge in coronavirus cases in New York, the Philippine Consulate General said it would do everything it can to ensure the continued delivery of consular services to members of the Filipino Community in the United States northeast.“Even with the omicron variant wreaking havoc in New York and other parts of the United States, we can be counted upon to continue serving our kababayan,” Consul General Elmer G. Cato said shortly after the United States reported 1 million coronavirus cases—the highest reported by a country in a single day since the pandemic broke out in 2020.“We would like to assure our kababayan that we will exert all efforts to not only keep our consular operations going the way we did in the past year but also in improving the way we deliver these services,” he said.Although the omicron threat had forced the Consulate to cancel several scheduled cultural events last month and implement stricter coronavirus protocols for the public, Consul General Cato said consular services have not been scaled down.In fact, the Consulate is expecting to…

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Consular Services Extended by PCG New York Up 70% in 2021

Press Release EGC-001-20223 January 2022 CONSULAR SERVICES EXTENDED BY PCG NEW YORK UP 70% IN 2021 New York, 03 January 2022 - Despite the continuing threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Consulate General in New York was able to increase the number of consular services it extended to the public by 70 percent in 2021 compared to the same period the previous year.Consul General Elmer G. Cato shared the figures during his monthly Pag-Usapan Natin virtual townhall meeting with members of the Filipino Community in the 10 United States northeast states under the Consulate’s jurisdiction on 29 December 2021.It could be noted that in 2020, the Consulate was forced to drastically reduce the number of services it could extend to the public after New York City authorities issued strict protocols in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.Consul General Cato said the Consulate had to do address the growing backlog as a result of the surge in demand for passport and other consular services from members of the Filipino Community.“As a result of our decision to return to normal operations in the second quarter, we were able to expand the number of services we extended from 16,792…

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Public Advisory: Launch of the New Passport Appointment System (GOAS)

ADVISORY No. 29-2021 27 December 2021 LAUNCH OF THE NEW PASSPORT APPOINTMENT SYSTEM (GOAS) Today, 27 December 2021, the Philippine Consulate General in New York started implementing the Global On-line Appointment System (GOAS) for passport applications. Passport applicants can now secure appointments through the following website: https://www.passport.gov.ph Appointments for other services like notarials, dual citizenship, and Social Security will continue to be secured from the Consulate’s website: www.newyorpcg.org. Should you have questions on the new appointment system, please e-mail newyorkpcg.passport@dfa.gov.ph.

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Public Advisory: New Online Visa Application System (OVAS)

ADVISORY No. 28-2021 23 December 2021 NEW ONLINE VISA APPLICATION SYSTEM (OVAS) The Philippine Consulate General in New York is pleased to announce that effective 03 January 2022, all 9a (Temporary Visitor) visa applicants must submit their applications through the Online Visa Application System (OVAS) using the following link: https://www.visa.gov.ph Once the application is submitted, the applicant shall be contacted by the Consulate’s Visa Section for the next steps, which may include submission of additional documentary requirements, the conduct of an interview, among others. The public is reminded that currently, only foreign passport holders under the following categories may apply for a 9a (Temporary Visitor) to enter the Philippines: Foreign spouses of Filipino nationals; Foreign minor children and foreign children with special needs (regardless of age) of Filipino nationals; and Foreign parents of minor Filipino children and foreign parents of Filipino children with special needs (regardless of age). For inquiries, please e-mail newyorkpcg.visa@dfa.gov.ph. In view of the volume of e-mails received, please allow between three to five working days for a reply. 

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Public Advisory: Covid Cases on the Rise; More Omicron Infections Reported in NY and NJ

ADVISORY No. 27-2021 16 December 2021 Covid Cases on the Rise; More Omicron Infections Reported in NY and NJ The Philippine Consulate General in New York would like to alert kababayan to the announcement of New York City Health Commissioner Dave Choski that coronavirus cases in the city are on the rise with more individuals in New York and New Jersey testing positive for the omicron variant.   New York City's Covid-19 positivity rate has also doubled in just three days with the omicron variant spreads. According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control, New York and New Jersey are the two states with the most rapid spread of the newly identified variant.   In anticipation of a possible surge during the holidays, kababayan who have not done so yet are encouraged to complete their vaccination and booster shots and continue to wear masks and observe physical distancing.

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Public Advisory: New Travel Protocols for Inbound US Travel Announced by CDC

ADVISORY No. 26-2021 6 December 2021 New Travel Protocols for Inbound US Travel Announced by CDC The Philippine Consulate General in New York wishes to inform kababayan returning to the United States that effective today, 06 December 2021, all travelers will be required to show evidence of a negative test for the coronavirus within one day of boarding their flight instead of the previous requirement of three days prior.This testing requirement is applicable to all, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship. The only exceptions to the test are children younger than two years old.Acceptable COVID-19 tests are either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), examples of which are the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid tests that meet the criteria.The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has clarified that the one-day period is one day before the flight’s departure and not necessarily 24 hours. The CDC order uses a one-day time frame instead of 24 hours to provide more flexibility to the air passenger and aircraft operator. By using a one-day window, test acceptability does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test sample was taken.Prior to…

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Public Advisory: Filipinos in US Not Yet Affected by New Travel Restrictions

ADVISORY No. 25-2021 29 November 2021 FILIPINOS IN US NOT YET AFFECTED BY NEW TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS The Philippine Consulate General in New York wishes to inform the public that Filipinos from the United States Northeast who are traveling to the Philippines are not covered by the new restrictions imposed on an additional number of countries due to the omicron variant of the coronavirus disease. Kababayan flying in from the United States, except those who have been to red-listed countries recently, will be allowed entry subject to the same the testing and quarantine protocols for all inbound international travelers from yellow-listed countries per Resolution No. 149-A of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF). Under said resolution, starting November 22, fully-vaccinated individuals who have pre-departure RT-PCR tests within 72 hours will only need to undergo facility-based quarantine for three (3) days instead of the previously required five (5) days. After the third day, they would have to take an RT-PCR test. Once the test results turn out negative, they are enjoined to self-monitor up to the 14th day from the date of their arrival. Said protocols do not cover kababayan and other travelers coming from red-listed countries…

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The Philippine Consulate General in New York Kicks Off the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence

Press Release 22 November 2021 The Philippine Consulate General in New York Kicks Off the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women The Philippine Consulate General in New York, led by Consul General Elmer G. Cato, wore orange, the official color of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, which symbolizes a brighter future free of violence. (Photo by Marvin Dimaculangan) NEW YORK – Personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in New York donned orange during the first Monday of the campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW). At the lobby of the Philippine Center, a strategic place has been devoted as an Anti-VAW landmark to increase public awareness on the 18-day campaign, which runs from 25 November to 12 December.  “The Philippine Consulate is committed to empowering our female personnel and female clientele by making sure that their voices are heard,” said Consul General Elmer G. Cato, during the flag-raising ceremony held this morning, 22 November. With the theme, “VAW-free Community Starts With me,” the goal is to engender a culture of accountability in fighting all forms of violence against women.  Supporting the campaign are personnel of the Philippine Center Management Board and the Social Security System who also wore orange, the…

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Public Advisory: Quarantine Period for Fully Vaccinated Filipinos from US Shortened from Five to Three Days

ADVISORY No. 24-2021 19 November 2021 QUARANTINE PERIOD FOR FULLY VACCINATED FILIPINOS FROM US SHORTENED FROM FIVE TO THREE DAYS The Philippine Consulate General in New York wishes to inform the public that kababayan from the United States will have a much easier time going back home to the Philippines this holiday season. Per Resolution No. 149-A of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF), starting November 22, fully-vaccinated individuals who have pre-departure RT-PCR tests within 72 hours will only need to undergo facility-based quarantine for three (3) days instead of the previously required five (5) days. After the third day, they would have to take an RT-PCR test. Once the test results turn out negative, they are enjoined to self-monitor up to the 14th day from the date of their arrival. This latest development will greatly contribute to the on-going recovery of the tourism sector this holiday season while also providing more time to those who want to return home to be with their loved ones in the Philippines. Unvaccinated, partially unvaccinated individuals shall undergo facility-based quarantine for seven days, after which they would have to take an RT-PCR test, to be followed by home…

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