PHL Embassy in Japan expands consular office as Filipino workers increase

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo has expanded and upgraded the chancery's consular section to strengthen its capabilities in providing faster and more efficient service amid the increasing number of Filipinos living and working in Japan. 

During the year-long initiative, the consular staff working area went through major renovation, which included reorganization of work spaces and construction of an interview and counseling room where the embassy can assist distressed Filipinos  while ensuring their privacy and comfort.

This is the first time the embassy has dedicated an assistance-to-nationals facility.

Other improvements in the embassy's consular division include the hiring of additional personnel, activation of dedicated assistance-to-nationals hotlines, installation of a new public address and client service number system, streamlining of consular processes, digitization of consular records to improve client management, and a proactive social media presence through infographic advisories.

"There is a growing number of Filipinos living and working in Japan, as well as the steadily increasing number of Filipino tourists visiting this country. As such, it is crucial for the embassy to be well-equipped and staffed to be able to better serve our kababayans," Philippine Ambassador Jose Laurel said in a statement.

There are now almost 300,000 Filipinos living and working in Japan, he said. In 2018, over half a million Filipino tourists visited the country.

"Serving Filipinos overseas is one of the pillars of Philippine foreign policy," said Minister and Consul General Robespierre Bolivar, who initiated and supervised the project.

"In order to strengthen our capabilities to provide quality service to our public, we undertook a series of improvements, beginning in May 2018."

Feedback rating from Filipinos, Bolivar said, has considerably improved and many consular applicants have commended the embassy in writing for the various improvements it has undertaken. —KG, GMA News