17 February 2019, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo- The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi conducted its first Consular Mission in 2019 on 17 February 2019 at the Procure des Missions, Procure Passagers Sainte Anne, Avenue Dumi 01, Gombe, Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Consular Team, composed of Consular Officer Hossana P. Dela Cruz and Protocol Officer Jake E. Fernandez, provided passport renewal and visa application services. They served 16 Filipinos in Kinshasa.
More than providing consular services to the Filipinos, the Team likewise ascertained the situation of the Filipinos in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly due to the reported Ebola outbreak in the DRC and the recent trafficking incidents involving Filipinos. DRC is home to more than 150 Filipinos.
The Filipino Community, headed by Fr. Arnel Batilong, welcomed the Consular Team for its service and assistance provided. They expressed the hope that Consular Missions be conducted regularly or at least once a year.
Fr. Arnel Batilong, who has been coordinating the Filipino Community in Kinshasa for the Embassy, was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from Ambassador Uriel Norman Garibay, for his assistance and support to the Embassy in championing the rights and welfare of the Filipinos in Kinshasa, particularly for the trafficking incidents in 2018.
The diverse Filipino community is composed of contract workers working in factories and in salons and spa, clergy and religious, and UN International Civil Servants and Peacekeepers.
The Consular Mission underscores the Nairobi PE’s commitment to bring the services of the Philippine Government to the more than 1700 Filipinos within its jurisdiction, which include Burundi, Comoros, Malawi, Republic of Congo (Brazilville), Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Consular Officer Jake E. Fernandez (seated left most) with the Filipinos lining up to be served
Fr. Arnel Batilong (center) receiving the Certificate of Recognition from Cultural Officer Hossana Dela Cruz, with members of the Filipino Community in the DRC witnessing the awarding of the Certificate of Recognition
