PR - 152-2024

26 November 2024, Ottawa. Ambassador Maria Andrelita S. Austria led the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in Canada in the Regional Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN), Contingency Planning and Consular Caucus for the Americas held in Los Angeles, California on 23-24 November 2024.

The Caucus gathered representatives of Philippine Embassies and Consulates General from across the Americas. It was aimed at discussing the Philippine Government’s assistance to Filipinos overseas and calibrating its global contingency plans.

Ambassador Austria discussed the growing Filipino diaspora in Canada and the challenges they face such as credentials recognition and navigating immigration policies. 

She also presented the issues impacting the delivery of ATN and consular services by the Embassy and Philippine Consulates General such as unethical recruitment practices and the increasing number of international students.

Other representatives from the Embassy and the Philippine Consulates General in Canada joined in the discussion on mapping of Filipinos and implementing the new Philippine Passport Law in Canada.

Ambassador Austria was joined by Consuls General Gina Jamoralin, Emma Sarne, and Rea Oreta; Consul Rodney Jonas Sumague; and Vice Consuls Vida Soraya Verzosa and Marco Harder.

The Regional Caucus was hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles under the auspices of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migration Affairs and with the participation of the Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, Office of Consular Affairs, and Department Legislative and Liaison Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs. END.