iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Across the world's largest cities, WRI estimates the longest heatwave each year could last 16.3 days on average under a 1.5°C scenario, but 24.5 days at 3°C
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Philippines to open consulate in Dubai
DUBAI - The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Thursday that it will be opening a Consulate General in Dubai, with DFA Secretary Delia Domingo-Albert leading the ceremonial opening next week.
"We are opening a Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, and we hope to do that this month, tentatively on April 6 or 7," Raul Hernandez, Director for Gulf States of the DFA's Office of Middle East and African Affairs, told Khaleej Times on Thursday. He is expected to be among the delegation that would be accompanying Ms Albert to the UAE.
This is welcome news to the Filipino expatriates living and working in Dubai and the Northern Emirates who have long been clamouring for a Philippine Consulate General in Dubai.
According to the latest records available at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Dubai is home to an estimated 60,559 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), while the total documented OFWs in the UAE is pegged at 165,258.
In the Northern Emirates, there are 21,600 Filipinos in Sharjah, 4,300 in Ajman, 3,200 in Umm Al Quwain, 5,400 in Ras Al Khaimah and 7,500 in Fujairah. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have a total of 62,700 OFWs. The total Filipino dependents in the UAE are within the range of 15,000.
The new Consulate General in Dubai will be using the existing structure -- the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) - as the venue of its operations. In the absence of a Consulate General in Dubai, the embassy officials and staff earlier had to travel all the way from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to conduct consular services every Thursday. They also conduct regular outreach consular missions in the Northern Emirates as requested.
When asked why it took some time for the DFA to open the Consulate General in the emirate, he explained: "We have to first see other parts of the world to evaluate the presence of Filipino expatriates there. We certainly prioritise countries with a high concentration of Filipinos, and Dubai has a large concentration of Filipinos. Before we open a consulate, a budget has to be presented by the Department of Foreign Affairs for approval."
Mr Hernandez added: "The necessary funds for the opening of the Consulate General have recently been approved for this budget year. We also have to take into consideration the staffing pattern and the logistics involved in setting up the consulate."
He said that the DFA has already worked out the staffing pattern, and that a Consul General has already been nominated. "At this time, we cannot disclose the identity of the Consul General who will be appointed to the post. He may be from a post in the Middle East or may be based at the DFA Home Office. It (the nomination) will be announced in due time," he said.
Commenting on the positive development, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Libran Cabactulan told Khaleej Times: "It will be a soft opening, with the POLO in Dubai to be converted to a Consulate General for the time being. Let us wait for further announcements from DFA Secretary Delia Domingo Albert, who is tentatively scheduled to be in Dubai for the ceremonial opening on April 7."
He added: "We have received an approval from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the opening of a Consulate General has been long-awaited. I was earlier hoping that it would be open before the elections, and fortunately, it has come into fruition."
The Philippine national elections for president, vice-president, senators and party list representatives are set to take place on May 10.
Fast Facts
ACCORDING to the latest records available at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Dubai is home to an estimated 60,559 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), while the total documented OFWs in the UAE is pegged at 165,258.
In the Northern Emirates, there are 21,600 Filipinos in Sharjah, 4,300 in Ajman, 3,200 in Umm Al Quwain, 5,400 in Ras Al Khaimah and 7,500 in Fujairah.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have a total of 62,700 OFWs. The total Filipino dependents in the UAE are within the range of 15,000.
More news from World
The move aims at taming record immigration levels that pushed country's population past 41 million earlier this year
Wickremesinghe, Premadasa, and Dissanayake are the main contenders for the post
His visit to Cairo aimed to salvage stalled negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to end the conflict
Hundreds of pagers belonging to the armed group exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday, killed 12 people, including two children, and wounded up to 2,800 others
Over a week ago, India had reported its first case in a man who had arrived from western Africa in Delhi
Government faces challenge of accelerating IMF reforms
Thailand reported three more deaths on Wednesday, taking the toll in the kingdom to 18, with a total of 537 fatalities now confirmed across the region