The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne recently provided consular outreach services to the Filipino Community in Adelaide. Consul General Maria Lourdes Salcedo led the team that included Consul Jan Sherwin Wenceslao, Mrs Arlene Guarino, Mr Ernie Enriquez, and Mr Domingo Salvador Bea.
Philippine Honorary Consul to South Australia Ms Carmen Garcia, as well as her team of volunteers, extended logistical and technical support, including the use of her office in Adelaide CBD as the venue for the Consular Mission.
In total, 416 clients were served with various consular needs. Among the services extended were passport applications and renewals, civil registrations (Reports of Birth), and Philippine citizenship retention and reacquisition (dual citizenship) under Republic Act 9225. Most applicants expressed gratitude for the outreach services, which resulted in significant savings and the convenience of not having to travel to Melbourne, the nearest career consulate, and take time off from work. By way of Republic Act No. 9225, or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, 59 Filipinos regained their Filipino citizenship as dual citizens.
Consul General Salcedo also conducted community engagement activities during the Consular Mission to Adelaide, including meetings with over thirty Filipino Community leaders in South Australia and discussions with Filipino students.
Salcedo also met with high officials and stakeholders in South Australia, including South Australia Governor H.E. Frances Adamson; Hon Zoe Bettison MP, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of South Australia; Ms Elizabeth Day, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of South Australia; and Ms Jacqueline Lo, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.
In response to the high demand for consular services in Adelaide, the Consulate General in Melbourne is considering conducting more frequent consular mobile outreach missions. There are over twenty-five thousand Filipinos living in Adelaide.
