Applicants keep their line while awaiting the opening of the consular services in Florence on October 14.

23 October 2017 ROME – The Filipino Community (FilCom) in Florence, Italy welcomed the changes in the conduct of the consular outreach in their city on October 14 to 15 that saw the consular team directly handling and supervising all components of the consular service operations.

Immediate feedback from individuals who availed of the consular services was overwhelmingly positive. They observed that the smooth and orderly conduct of the consular outreach was a break and a marked improvement from the past.

Many of the applicants suggested that the Philippine Embassy continue with the format while openly expressing their appreciation to the consular staff for their professionalism and dedication to duty.

The consular staff of the Philippine Embassy in Rome directly handled all aspects of consular outreach operations, from notification, registration and queuing of applicants to actual delivery of all types of consular services. They also handled the clean-up of the venue facilities at the completion of the event.

The consular team in Florence handled a total of 917 transactions, of which 342 were related to passports, 227 were OWWA and POLO-related matters, 128 were services rendered by the Social Security Service and PAG-IBIG representatives. In addition, the consular team facilitated the registration of 165 overseas voters.

The team also provided home service to a bedridden Filipino who applied for renewal of passport. The team also visited Mr. Alfredo Agacaoili, 76, at the Don Gnocchi Rehabilitation Center in Florence. END

For more information, visit www.dfa.gov.ph, www.facebook.com/dfaphl, and @dfaphl on Twitter.

Applicants get their priority number and wait for their turns to be called. Passport renewal applications have been pre-evaluated prior to the arrival of the consular outreach team. Applicants, particularly minors, have been advised ahead of additional documents to submit, if any, to complete their requirements for passport renewal applications.