03 December 2024, ROME – The Philippine Embassy in Rome and its partner agencies, in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate in Palermo, conducted a successful consular outreach mission to serve overseas Filipinos in various regions of Sicily, including Palermo, Messina, Catania, and the nearby city of Reggio Calabria. The event, held at Chiesa di San Gregorio Papa, Piazza Porta Carini 4, 90134 Palermo, from 30 November to 01 December 2024, provided essential consular services to 693 Filipino nationals.
The consular outreach team, led by Ambassador Nathaniel G. Imperial and Consul General Randy B. Arquiza, facilitated a range of services, including passport applications, civil registry services, and consultations on assistance-to-nationals services and other consular matters. Consul General Arquiza also administered the oath of allegiance to fifty-two (52) Filipinos who chose to retain their Philippine citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225. Additionally, the Philippine Consulate in Palermo processed thirteen (13) notarization services.
The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Rome also participated, handling 375 transactions, including processing of membership and renewal applications, welfare counseling, and the Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
During the consular outreach mission, Ambassador Imperial, Consul General Arquiza, Consul Antonino Di Liberto, Assistant Labor Attaché Rosemarie G. Luntao, and Welfare Officer Norlita P. Lugtu, briefed the Filipino community of the Embassy’s programs and activities.
Ambassador Imperial also hosted a town hall meeting, where he met with Filipino community leaders/members from across the Sicilian region. Joined by Consul General Arquiza, Assistant Labor Attaché Luntao, and Consul Di Liberto, the Ambassador listened to the concerns of the community and addressed consular matters. The open forum allowed attendees to voice their needs and fostered meaningful dialogue between the Embassy and the community.
On 30 November 2024, Ambassador Imperial, accompanied by Consul General Arquiza and Consul Di Liberto, met with the Archbishop of Monreale, His Excellency Mons. Gualtiero Isacchi, to strengthen ties with the local religious community.
This mission marks the Embassy’s first consular outreach mission in Palermo since 2022, reaffirming its commitment to delivering vital government services to Filipinos in Italy. The Sicilian region is home to a significant Filipino population, with Palermo being the largest concentration of Filipinos in Southern Italy.
The outreach was made possible by the Office of Undersecretary for Migration Affairs (OUMA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Consulate in Palermo, and the Embassy’s partner agencies.
