UAE- Huge response to Philippine mobile consulate services 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The Philippine Consulate General in Dubai is conducting a two-day mobile service to Ras Al Khaimah to better serve the Filipino communities and expatriates in the far-flung areas of the Northern Emirates.

This mobile service, which began on Thursday, is the second to be conducted this month. Earlier, the consular team went to Fujairah. By next month, mobile services will also be conducted in Dubai on April 5 and in Fujairah again on April 19 and 20.

Philippine Vice-Consul Gerry Suliguin said that mobile services have beefed up the number of applicants for Philippine passports, which has continued to soar since December 2012. The increase has registered a staggering 268 per cent increase or a total of 4,977 passport applications in February of this year in comparison to 1,859 in February 2012.

Suliguin attributed the rise in passport applications and extensions to the enhanced efficiency of the human resource, more mobile services, a more streamlined set of procedures and a reduction in appointment backlog, which now stands at less than two months.

The vice-consul said this backlog could not be avoided due to the overwhelming number of Filipinos working and residing in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. - lily@khaleejtimes.com