COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ZOOM MEETING 17 OCTOBER 2020, 2-3:30PM SUMMARY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ZOOM MEETING 17 OCTOBER 2020, 2-3:30PM ATTENDEES: RAYMOND GARRETT, Philippine Honorary Consul to Ireland VANDA BRADY, Director of Marketing & Communications DARREN SMYTH, Director of Trade & Business Development WENDELL BERSABAL, Consular Services Manager and Community Engagement & Youth Empowerment Officer AINA CONWAY, Consular Services Manager and Education, Culture & Arts Officer LEAH FE LIONG, Consular Services Manager Community Leaders: - Waterford Filipino Community - Drogheda Filipino Irish Community - Cork Filipino Youth Organisation - YO KFC - Kildare Filipino Community - Couples for Christ - Irish Wives - LUMAD - Galway Filipino Irish Community - MRCI – Justice for the Undocumented - Carers Association - Irish Nurses Association - Ilocano Irish Association - Filipino Workers Association - Outreach Ireland - Limerick Filipino Community
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OBJECTIVE: To involve the active community leaders in the following: o Learning and sharing the information on consular services to their respective communities o Sharing inspiring stories about Filipinos in Ireland o Initiating new projects and participating in online events, especially during the lockdown
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Consul Garrett informed the community on the recent updates on Consular Services as COVID Restrictions are increased o Call for Opening an Embassy – Consul Raymond said that this will not happen in 2021 due to the pandemic, DFA budget has been redeployed to COVID-related activities. o
Call for having an Outreach in Ireland – Having an Outreach will require Embassy staff to quarantine when they arrive in Ireland and when they go back to the UK. Restrictions of the UK and Irish government will keep embassy staff away for one month which is not feasible. Philippine government restrictions do not allow Embassy staff to enter countries with high level of COVID cases, which Ireland is right now.
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Reacquisition of Citizenship – Current restrictions in the Philippines do not allow foreign nationals to enter the Philippines including Filipinos who have not reacquired their citizenship after becoming naturalised Irish Citizens. Non-Filipinos will have to apply for a visa, and the embassy website would explain which categories are prioritised under essential travel only. Travelling home for a funeral is, unfortunately, not a priority and the Consulate had to deal with difficult situations on this, but the restriction ultimately helps prevent the risk of spreading the virus. There is a call for having an oath-taking via zoom but unfortunately this is illegal, it requires a change in Philippine government legislation.
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However, Consul Raymond said anyone is welcome to email the embassy and campaign for these changes. Consul Raymond is in discussions with the embassy in having one or two embassy staff to come over to conduct a large batch of dual citizenship but this will depend or be controlled by the three government restrictions – UK, Irish and Philippine governments. The Ambassador is eager to hear the proposal and the embassy are happy with the idea. It will not happen next month due to the current restrictions. Director Brady announced that Drogheda Filipino Irish Community is preparing a signature campaign in order to help change the law on requiring personal appearance for passport renewal and reacquisition of citizenship. Drogheda Filipino Irish Community PRO Melvin Valderama said it was an idea that he and fellow officer Aaron Pundol came up with in order to address the issue on passport renewal. They are not sure if it will work or if it will be feasible but atleast they will try their best. Mr. Valderama also said that we need to try to do something instead of just wait for the law to change. Consul Garrett said they can help change the law if legislators back home get wind of 6,000 signatures in Ireland, and if other countries follow suit. It may be an uphill battle but it is a start. He suggested to make it a strong campaign backed by evidence and get the community support, such as: It is prudent to have an embassy or a system to renew passports because: § You need a visa to travel to the UK § the travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic § the more stringent restrictions that are coming due to the UK leaving the EU § the uncertainty of Covid in the coming year or years § the financial costs that come with traveling
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Mr. Valderama gave an example why passports can be renewed in 2008 by just going to the house of Former Consul John Ferris. Consul Garrett explained that the new e-passport is now a more secure passport in that it requires retina scanning and allows far easier freedom of travelling between countries the Philippines had bilaterial agreements with relating to travel, but issuing it requires personal appearance.
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Aaron Pundol asked the difference between a Philippine and Irish passport, they are both machine-readable and with biometrics and it has only been a decade since the Philippine passport was upgraded. Since it is only a renewal and not a new application, all the data is stored in the system anyway. If it is the law to have personal appearance, he researched on it and found that Republic Act 5239 the Philippine Passport Act doesn’t even specify the requirement for personal appearance for renewal, which means it is only in the IRR, in the implementing rules. He believes even a memorandum or before an executive order from the President can simply amend it. But we are not lawyers, he supports Melvin’s suggestion for a signature campaign, and he is trying to network with a friend in Congress who can champion the campaign, and start filing an amendment of the law because it is very inconvenient to travel to renew something that has information already in the database.
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Director Brady said Mr. Pundol’s comments are valid and that he should put it in writing and send it as well to the London embassy because the more people air these views the quicker the change in legislation could be done.
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Handiego Gayeta of Waterford Filipino Community asked about when the next Dublin on Wheels will happen. Consul Garrett explained that renewal of passports can only be done in London or the Philippines and said to email leah@philippinconsulate.ie for passport extensions.
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Consular Officer Leah Liong reminded everyone that when booking for an appointment, you are allowed 24 hours to cancel (This has now been increased to 48 hours because of Level 5 restrictions). If you do not cancel, you are banned for booking an appointment for the next four weeks. The Consul and the Volunteers risk their health when they go to the consulate
to help provide services, so cancellations is a big hassle. This is also to give a chance to others who were not booked because it is fully booked, but turn out to be no-shows. Officer Bersabal encouraged leaders to be aware of the Passport Extension service and spread the information about it. o
Director Brady reiterated that any requests for an outreach or embassy or change in the law requiring personal appearance during the pandemic can be sent to Melvin Valderama who is preparing for a signature or email the London Embassy at Londonpe.consular@dfa.gov.ph.
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The Consulate is planning to post Q & A Live Videos and slideshows explaining its services.
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Officer Aina Conway reminded everyone that when calling the hotline, not to block their caller ID so she can call them back and to leave a message.
III. Community Engagement o Director Brady informed the community that the objective of the meeting is 1) to encourage the community leaders to be aware of the consular services so they can relay these to their respective communities. 2) to inform them of the current and coming projects of the Consulate 3) to listen to the suggestions and concerns of community leaders 4) to encourage community leaders to initiate and participate in community projects YOUTH EMPOWERMENT o
Officer Aina Conway acknowledged the presence of the youth from Cork and Kildare in the meeting and called on to the leaders in Drogheda, Waterford, Galway and all other counties to work together in connecting or integrating all the youth groups so they can start working on projects together during the lockdown. She asked leaders to contact her and Officer Wendell Bersabal and highlighted the importance of educating the youth and getting them involved as they are our future leaders, and to hone them in what they are doing at the moment, to show them good leadership. She mentioned the Philippine Culture Zoom lessons where she asked one of the youth in Kildare to teach a few words and requested everyone to think of what else they can share in the lessons. Officer Bersabal added that they want to empower the youth and ask help from the adults in doing this.
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Officer Conway suggested to bring the best out of the youth by letting them write an essay where they share experiences during the pandemic and these can posted on the Facebook page.
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Aaron of Drogheda Filipino Community added that it is so difficult to bring the youth together in Drogheda since the lockdown and prefers to let them meet physically instead of online. Director Brady said that for now we can try to work together to let the youth meet virtually.
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Ella the Vice President of the Filipino Youth Association in Cork said that bringing the youth together and teaching about the Philippine culture will be good.
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Andrea from the Kildare Youth Group said that many youth perform the Santa Cruzan or Sto. Nino Parade but don’t understand it or why they do it, or why they dress up for it.
REACHING OUT TO NON-HEALTHCARE WORKERS & CURRENT ONLINE PROJECTS o
Officer Wendell Bersabal announced that he has reached out to workers in the nonhealthcare sectors such as fishermen, dairy farmers and accountants in order to give value to what they do, and to recognise their contribution to the economy and to know their stories and experiences as well. He asked the leaders to let him know of Filipino workers in other sectors who play a big role in the Irish workforce.
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Officer Bersabal also encouraged everyone to maximise the use of social media during the pandemic, and reminded the leaders that the Consulate and leaders are here to help each other.
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Officer Bersabal announced plans for Christmas focused on the youth § Essay Writing – What you think of Philippine Christmas while in Ireland § Parol Making § Maximise talents of the youth – organise a chorale performance, especially in the Filipino language § Simbang Gabi
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The Consulate reminded the community about “TARA, USAP TAYO KAPATID,” a call-a-friend referral service in various Philippine dialects to help Filipinos who are having a difficult time during the pandemic.
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The Consulate will be featuring community leaders and community groups that have been active the past year and in recent months.
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Director Darren Smyth announced the Free Zoom Seminar on the basics of starting c company, leases, licenses, promoting your business on the web, digital marketing and ecommerce in order to maximise the Potential of Filipino-owned Business in Ireland – Oct 21, Wed, 7pm. Director Brady added that the Consulate can promote the services that Filipino businesses are offering and to inform business owners to join the zoom meeting. Consul Garrett said the seminar is open to anyone with an entrepreneurial role such as home grown businesses. And that a marketing specialist will be there, Martin Eastwood, and Darren who has experience in the retail sector who can provide assistance.
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Director Brady shared that there was a request to teach certified skills-training courses with OWWA especially for the undocumented. The Consulate will consider reviving the Migrant Integration and Skills Training Ireland where OWWA-recognised courses for OFW’s will be taught, particularly courses that will help them start a business. Director Brady requested everyone to think of ideas on what courses to teach, such as IT or alterations, and if anyone knows lecturers. Online certificated courses are on demand during the lockdown.
IV. CONSUL GARRETT EXPLAINS CONSULAR SERVICES AT ST. JOHN BOSCO IN DUBLIN -
Consul Garrett said he is at the Consulate office on most Fridays from 7am-7pm which is one day a week because they have to rent a Sports Hall and pay for it to be sanitized. He said percent of the people who come are medical professionals or exposed to COVID patients so preventive measures in the Consulate is essential.
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Services for Consular Services are booked through the Consulate Facebook page, you do not need to have a Facebook Account. If you don’t use Facebook please provide and email address and a phone number so the team can contact you.
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Consulate Services: o
Legalisation/Acknowledgement/Red Ribbon/Authentication – A document for use in the Philippines such as an affidavit/contract of sales, etc. which is an Oath, which you swear to Consul Raymond as a Commissioner for Oaths and he legalises it as a Consul which makes it a valid legal document in the Philippines. The fees vary for an oath, which has two local charges - €12.00 Commissioner for Oaths and the Philippine Government charges €22.50 for a legal consular document. Around €35 for one person doing an SPA and around €45 for two persons. If you come prepared the cost goes down, there is a photocopier, card payments are accepted, and there’s a small charge for each of them. The appointment is 15 minutes and you may have to wait 30-40 minutes depending how quick the people ahead of you are.
Emergency cases or pregnant/with a baby are prioritised and all the normal procedures civilized people do. o
NBI Fingerprinting – If you need police clearance from the Philippines you need NBI Clearance. You can renew your NBI clearance online if you had it prior to 2014, if not you have to do it all over again on the NBI Fingerpring Impressioning Card. The Fingerprints are taken in Dublin which the Consul will notarise it then the applicant sends it to the Philippines to have it processed. Cons NBI Fingerprinting is now available in Cork and will be available in Kildare.
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Civil Registration – If you have a baby, if someone dies, or someone gets married in Ireland you need to register this at the Philippine government. The forms need to be notarised by either a notary public in Ireland that may be expensive and will cost around €100 or you can have it notarised by Consul Garrett at the office for only €22.50.
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Emergency Travel Document can be issued by the Consul for valid reasons § Example, if you have an expired Passport but need to go home – you need to give your old passport, birth certificate and/or another valid passport and you have to be a Filipino or dual citizen.
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General Certification – example, a certification for immigration that you have tried to renew your passport but the Consulate does not provide it and the Philippine Embassy in London cannot come for an Outreach.
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Assistance to Nationals – the Consulate helps Filipino nationals in distress. It has limitations, but the Consulate will go above and beyond the call of duty and try to help.
Director Brady added the following information: -
The Consulate is developing a contingency plan on how to address the increased COVID restrictions to better serve the community.
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The Consulate is going to: o Update its website o Develop Q & A or how-to videos and slideshows to better explain the services
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The Consulate welcomes positive comments on their work as well.
Consul Garret emphasised that the Consulate team works hard to answer calls, emails and messages to answer queries 24/7 and request people not to get angry at the volunteers who wake up at 5am to help provide the services at the Consulate, and to understand that the needs of other Filipinos are considered and assessed and not one individual alone, and sometimes be considerate to people who travelled from afar and may ask to be accommodated first to catch their bus home, and to always take responsibility in researching and complying with the requirements for the services. The Consulate is not a one-man show. The reason we get to see up to 70 applicants a day during a pandemic is because it is a team effort – some volunteers are visible and some you do not see, there is so much going on in the background. The Consul may be the front house and may be the person you see and the most visible but what keeps him going is the support of everyone beside him. The Consul thanked the whole team and the leaders who joined the meeting. V. Answers to Questions (from texts, comments, and at the meeting): 1.
HOW DO WE RENEW OR EXTEND PASSPORTS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPIRED? (question from Jayson Montenegro) o Consul Raymond said this question is rooted to the plans on the regularisation of undocumented migrants and that Jayson mentioned that Minister Helen McEntee committed to the policies of regularisation of the undocumented and the implementation of
the plan within 18 months. Unfortunately, undocumented migrants with expired passports have two options 1) Since you cannot travel to London, you wait for an outreach in 2021, and hope to be one of the thousand applicants who apply for a slot. With the current pandemic, if an outreach happens, fewer passports can be renewed because we have to comply with safety guidelines. 2) Go home to the Philippines by getting an Emergency Travel Document but you may not be able to return to Ireland. Consul Raymond said they are trying to find solutions but have not found one yet. Expired passports cannot be extended, and extension requires approval or clearance from the Philippine government passport watchlist. Video appearance or applying by post for passport renewal is not allowed and is against the law. I hope that answers your question, I know it is not the answer you want but I would rather tell you the truth rather than give you false hope.
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Irene Jagoba added that a policy paper will be coming out on regularization of undocumented and will announce a new project called JFU Helping Hand. Currently, many are facing challenges due to the pandemic for undocumented who are in need. She will announce this project which is a mini-insurance.
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Consul Raymond added that the move to regularise is due to the significant work done by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) and encouraged the leaders that if they know of any undocumented migrants to let them link up with MRCI as they are the most experienced organisation that deals with the undocumented.
HOW DO WE RENEW THE IRISH RESIDENCE PERMIT OR GNIB CARD WHEN YOUR PASSPORT IS EXPIRED? Consul Garrett said that on renewing your GNIB card, you should go to the source – the GNIB website for updated and reliable information. If your passport is expired, you can get a Certificate from the Consulate explaining that the embassy has not conducted an outreach since January and passport renewal is not offered in the Consulate and Immigration may accept this on a case by case basis.
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CAN WE APPLY FOR THE MULTIPURPOSE CARD IN IRELAND? UMID means Unified Multi-purpose Identification and often called UMID Card. The Unified MultiPurpose ID (UMID) is a four-in-one identification card that Filipinos can use to transact with government agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund. The UMID is also accepted as a valid ID in most transactions. Consul Garrett said that it is similar to the Irish Public Service Card which you can use to access Social Welfare, but the UMID card is only valid in the Philippines. To date, no word yet if there will be a UMID online registration process and can only be applied for personally to confirm your identity and make sure that only one card is issued to you. Consul Garrett said if anyone feels that Filipinos should be able to apply for it in Ireland, please put it in writing and he will get it to the proper authorities.
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CAN WE APPLY FOR PASSPORT RENEWAL IN ANOTHER EU-COUNTRY? Consul Raymond said that the Philippine Embassy London is fully booked up to early next year but check their website for any cancellations. Philippine passport holders in Ireland are free to contact the Philippine embassy in the country they wish to travel to renew their passport to inquire if they can be accommodated with a passport renewal there. We cannot offer advice or guidance on the visa requirements for other countries. Any other EU country requires a visa.
Next Steps: -
Drogheda Filipino Irish Community to announce their online campaign for opening an embassy, having an outreach and request for no personal appearance for passport renewal and reacquisition of citizenship
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Community leaders to inform the Consulate on existing youth groups and Officers Bersabal and Conway will set up a chat group for these groups for coming online cultural, educational and Christmas activities, and for volunteers who want to help in any way.
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The Consulate will reviving the Migrant Integration and Skills Training Ireland where online OWWArecognised courses for OFW’s will be taught, particularly courses that will help them start a business.
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Director Brady to post the summary of the meeting as well as the Consulate Report and summary of the last community meeting on June 2020.