A record high of 1,534 Filipinos, comprised of 1,435 ePassport applicants and 99 petitioners for dual citizenship, were serviced during the Philippine Embassy’s mobile mission held from 22 to 25 November 2012 at the Main Hall of the Australian Asian Association in Perth.

Due to the limited number of data capture machines and the high volume of expected applicants, the Embassy had asked that ePassport applicants pre-register and send their applications in advance to the Embassy for pre-encoding in its data capture machines. Out of a total of 1,208 pre-registered applications received, 1,194 made an appearance. All of these 1,194 pre-registered applicants were serviced.

The mobile team likewise accepted as many walk-in applicants (those who did not pre-register with the Embassy) as was possible during its brief stay in Perth. Walk-in applicants numbered 241 in total.

In total, the 4-man mobile team to Perth was able to attend to 1,435 applicants in three and a half days.

Oath taking of Filipino dual citizens took place in the afternoon of 23 November. On that day, 99 individuals re-acquired their Filipino citizenship in accordance to Republic Act No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.

Vice Consul Grace Bulos led the Embassy team in Perth, assisted by Messrs. Carlomagno Estole and Ronaldo Pilapil and Ms. Madelaine David.

The Philippine Embassy is thankful to the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Perth, headed by Honorary Consul General Gerald Donnelly, who provided the much needed support for the conduct of the mission.

The Embassy likewise acknowledges and appreciates the help of the Filipino community volunteers from Damayang Filipino, Inc. who were requested to manage the queue of applicants and dual citizenship oath takers.

For 2013, the Embassy will continue to reach out to its consular clientele through its mobile consular missions. The public is advised to check the Philippine Embassy website www.philembassy.org.au for the schedule of the 2013 mobile missions to the various Australian state capitals.