29 September 2015 –As part of its efforts to continuously engage with the Filipino community in its jurisdiction, the Philippine Embassy in Rome conducted a Forum with the community on September 24 at the Embassy Social Hall.
The Forum was attended by around 50 Filipino community leaders and members, and allowed discussion on many important issues, such as consular services, Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN), overseas voters (OV) registration and POLO/OWWA concerns.
Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco highlighted the transparent, accountable and responsive processes at the Embassy. He specifically cited the posting at the Consular Section of the Citizen’s Charter, no lunch-break policy, wearing of IDs of all frontline personnel, priority to seniors and persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the implementation of the Client Feedback mechanism through the Suggestion Box.
Ambassador Nolasco also encouraged the community to actively exercise their right to suffrage and to be involved in the selection of the future leaders of the country. In this regard, the community was reminded of the upcoming deadline for overseas voting registration and was requested to invite their family members and friends to register if they had not yet done so.
During the Forum, the community was likewise informed on, and invited to, the various upcoming seminars organized by the Embassy to address youth unemployment, gender awareness/sensitivity, queries on civil registration and on dual citizenship.
The representatives of POLO/OWWA, SSS and Pag-IBIG also gave updates on their programs for the community.
The Embassy also confirmed its participation at the forums with the community on November 08 and 15 to be held at the Filipino Chaplaincy in Via Urbana 60 in Rome. END
