PH Consulate General in Istanbul, MWO Lebanon Team Hold Outreach Mission, Extend Services to Filipinos in Istanbul
MWO Team provides its services to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) during the last day of their outreach mission in Istanbul on 20 April 2023. (Istanbul PCG Photo)
Istanbul, 21 April 2023 – Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, led by Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil, in partnership with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Lebanon, headed by Labor Attaché Alejandro Padaen, held a two-day Outreach Mission for Filipinos in Istanbul on 19 to 20 April 2023 at the Consulate premises.
A total of 61 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) were provided assistance by the MWO team, of which 42 were related to contract verification and 19 were on labor-related concerns. In addition, 33 OWWA membership renewals were facilitated during the said two-day mission.
Following the outreach mission, a dialogue between the Consulate Officials, the MWO Team, and the Filipino Community group leaders and representatives, composed of mostly women leaders, was held on 20 April 2023.
In her opening remarks, Consul General Mananquil emphasized that the “outreach mission demonstrates the value and importance the Philippine Government accords to its migrant workers -– by bringing services closer to where its people are.”
Labor Attaché Alejandro Padaen briefly discussed the newly constituted Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the operations of the MWO. While OWWA-Lebanon Officer-in-Charge, Ms. Windelin DC Marquez, provided an overview of the different programs of OWWA, including the extent of its welfare assistance to OFWs.
The dialogue also discussed a number of issues and concerns relevant to the Filipino community in Istanbul and its neighboring provinces.
In closing, both Consul General Mananquil and Labor Attaché Padaen urged the Filipino Community leaders not to hesitate to reach out to the Philippine Consulate General, MWO, or OWWA if they need assistance, regardless of their status in their host country.
The Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul, Türkiye will continue partnering with MWO and OWWA Lebanon to extend necessary assistance to OFWs in Istanbul and those within the Consulate’s jurisdiction.
The outreach mission and the dialogue with Filipino community group leaders are also part of the Consulate General’s Gender and Development (GAD) activity for the year, with the aim of informing and empowering Filipino migrant workers with more information about the existing programs of the Philippine government, particularly the MWO and OWWA. END
OWWA-Lebanon OIC, Ms. Windelin DC Marquez (left photo), and MWO Administrative Staff, Ms. Jessaline G. Escame (right photo), facilitate OWWA membership renewal and employment verification to Filipino clients, respectively, on the first day of their outreach mission in Istanbul at the Philippine Consulate General premises. (MWO-Lebanon Photos)
Labor Attaché Alejandro Padaen attends to labor-related cases and concerns of OFWs on the first day of their outreach mission in Istanbul at the Philippine Consulate General premises. (MWO-Lebanon Photo)
Istanbul PCG Team, represented by (L-R) Vice Consul Maika Ros B. Fontelera, Consul Rachel Anne L. Oronce, and Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil, and MWO-Lebanon Team, led by Labor Attaché Alejandro Padaen, OWWA-Lebanon OIC Windelin DC Marquez, and MWO Administrative Staff Jessaline G. Escame, engage in an interactive dialogue with the Filipino community group leaders on 20 April 2023. (Istanbul PCG Photo)
Istanbul PCG Team, MWO Team, and Filipino community group leaders pose after the dialogue on 20 April 2023. (Istanbul PCG Photo)
