The Philippine Embassy in Berlin kicked off its 2020 consular mission schedule in Hamburg on 29 February 2020, where it rendered a total of one hundred sixty-one consular services including passport renewal, certification and notarial services, civil registry services, one-on-one consultations and overseas absentee voting registration. The Embassy’s youngest client of the day was a 29-day old newborn whose parents filed for her Report of Birth and passport application.
The 5-member consular outreach mission successfully delivered various frontline services with the support of the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG), an umbrella organization of the Filipino communities in Hamburg and Northern Germany as well as the Kleiner Michel Parish through the assistance of Fr. Philipp Görtz, SJ and Filipino Chaplaincy Head Fr. Ritchill Salinas, SVD.
Certificates of Appreciation to Filipino Community partners were handed over by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega during the outreach mission.
POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) Welfare Officer, Ms. Sylvia Gabriel likewise took part in the Embassy outreach. Welof Gabriel conducted 3-rounds of orientation seminars on OWWA membership and benefits throughout the mission. She also processed the registration of new OWWA members and provided consultations on OEC and labor-concerns of Filipino nurses working in Hamburg and nearby areas.
The Embassy’s consular outreach was warmly received and appreciated, despite rising concerns on COVID-19, given that the first case of COVID-19 patient in Hamburg was just reported a day before.
In view of COVID-19 concerns, the Embassy provided copies of its latest Advisory on COVID-19 and continuously reiterated reminders on proper hygiene and wellness.
Located about 3 hours from Berlin, over 1000 Filipinos reside in the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg with an additional 1,000 Filipinos in neighboring cities such as Kiel and Bremen. END