PH consulate ends 5-day mobile consular services

The Philippine Consulate General in Agana, Guam, concluded its three-day mobile consular services on Saipan yesterday at the Daidai Social Hall at the Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Susupe.

A similar outreach was held on Tinian the week before on May 9 to 10 at Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.

Consul Mark F. Hamoy said the three-day event is a regular outreach that provides consular services for passports, civil registry, and notary services.

“They go through a two-stage process where they enlist in advance because it is limited and we capture their data and biometrics,” Hamoy said.

Hamoy said they work on 120 passport applications per day, for a total of 480 for the entire four-day outreach on both Tinian and Saipan.

“We have walk-ins as well. We provide services and they take the chance because if the quota is not yet filled we take those who are qualified,” Hamoy said.

Nelly Sablan, 52, who missed the outreach on Tinian due to a three-day track-and-field competition for her students, said she came to Saipan to renew her passport.

“I am a coach and I missed the outreach on Tinian because we were here on Saipan for a competition at [Gilbert C.] Ada Gymnasium, so I came to this one to renew my passport, which is almost expired,” she said.

Bhoyet Tapaoan, 46, said he came with his girlfriend to renew his passport.

“It is difficult because if there is no schedule or appointment they sometimes cannot accept walk-ins,” he said.

United Filipino Organization volunteers and District 204 Lions Club of Saipan members aided the Philippine consulate.

“We are volunteering, arranging, and introducing clients for renewal and extension of passports,” said Nenita Marquez of Lions Club.

Florence Miranda of UFO said that some clients come with questions about expired passports and if they want to renew their CW status they have to extend their passport.

Hamoy said the documents that the public turns in are processed already and if they don’t have the required documents they won’t be accommodated.

“Any reason to extend passport is if you are renewing your CW for employment, going off-island for medical condition to be treated, or if someone died in your family,” he said.

Hamoy said that the process takes time, especially for passports.

“It will go to the Philippines then to Guam and then we email or contact our clients if their passport is here,” he said.

UFO’s Anna De Guzman said that she sometimes pick up the passports when she goes to Guam.

“When I go to Guam for check up, sometimes I pick up passports for clients if they give me their receipts,” De Guzman said.

For questions or clarifications regarding the mobile consular outreach, call the Philippine Consulate General at its toll free number (670) 682-2222.