CANBERRA, Australia (1 August 2023) – The Embassy of the Philippines in Canberra completed a five-day mobile consular mission in Perth, Western Australia on 24 to 28 July 2023.

The mobile consular team processed 451 passport applications and administered the oath of allegiance of 126 Filipinos who reacquired their Filipino citizenship through Republic Act No 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003. The 126 dual citizens included twenty-two (22) minor children who are dependents of their parents who applied for the reacquisition of their Filipino citizenship. Registration for overseas voting for the 2025 national elections was made available to Filipinos in Perth.

Based on the 2021 Australian census, there are over 46,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent in the State of Western Australia. The Embassy resumed the conduct of annual consular missions in Perth in 2022 after travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic were lifted.

The Embassy team was composed of Consul Corina Reyes, Ms. Irene Sadang, Mr. Rodrigo Gavino and Mr. Jessie Lucas. Defense and Armed Forces Attachè Col Alexander Gigantone and MSg John Pangasi provided support to the conduct of the mission. Migrant Workers Office-Canberra OIC Mr. Oscar David facilitated contract verification services and provided post-arrival orientation seminar (PAOS) to 92 workers based in Western Australia. He also held worksite visits to engage employers and Filipino workers.

The Embassy worked with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Perth led by Consul Virma Symons to ensure an organized and productive consular mission. - END