As the Philippine Embassy continues its mobile consular services for the fourth year for Filipinos in New Zealand, Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez led the Philippine Embassy Mobile Consular Team composed of Vice-Consul Glenn Joseph Obach, Atty. Levy Ang, Mr. Edgar Matibag, Ms. Mary Bel Garcia and Ms. Monette Garcia in conducting the seventh series of mobile consular services for 2014 and the second time for this year for the benefit of Filipinos in Christchurch and the surrounding areas of the South Island in New Zealand on 11-15 September 2014. Called “The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand: Serving with a Smile, Going the Extra Mile and Reaching Beyond Our Grasp” mobile consular services, 830 Filipinos from Christchurch, Ashburton, Ranfurly, Fairlie, Linwood, Westport, Dunedin, Rolleston, Papanui, Darfield, Dipton, Waimate, Rakaia, Gore, Oamaru, Balclutha, Invercargill, Otautau, Papanui, Greymouth, Timaru, Geraldine and surrounding areas availed of e-passports processing, notarial documentation, reports of birth and marriage, dual citizenship and overseas voters registration services. This is the 34th mobile consular mission conducted by the Philippine Embassy since October 2011. To date, a total of 12,326 Filipinos comprising more than 30% of the 40,350 members of the Filipino community have benefitted from this first ever mobile consular service throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

The Filipino community members in Christchurch and other parts of the South Island reiterated their deep gratitude to the Philippine Government through the Philippine Embassy for rendering the much needed and sought after consular services right where they are residing and working. The first applicant, Mr. Rosendo G. Calderon who works in Oamaru as a dairy farm assistant conveyed his appreciation to the Philippine Embassy for “an excellent and hopes that the Philippine Embassy will continue with its mobile consular activities which greatly help many Filipinos like him who are live in far and distant places.” Several Filipinos from the different cities and towns also gave very positive and highly appreciative feedback for this continuing excellent and timely service which saves them a lot of money, time, days off and resources as it would have been extremely costly, inconvenient and difficult if they had to go all the way to Wellington. “Excellent service, helpful and courteous staff, friendly, well done and keep up the good work” were among the written feedback given by the Filipinos. The Philippine Embassy has always shared with the Filipino community the Philippine Government’s priority and concern for their welfare and well-being as the third major pillar of Philippine foreign policy. “In recognition of the vital roles and crucial contributions of the global Filipinos to nation-building in the Philippines and New Zealand, the Philippine Embassy will continue to reach out to them through our mobile consular services and dialogue, demonstrate its caring and sharing spirit and bring the Embassy’s services closer to about 40,350 Filipinos here,” Ambassador Benavidez stated.