Ricky Laxa/ Staff Writer
Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait His Excellency Mohammad Noordin Pendosina Lomondot announced today that added services for the renewal and extension of passports will take into effect on 25 November giving Overseas Filipino Workers access to on-line appointments and walk in applications. This is in response to the overwhelming demand to accommodate expired and expiring visas.
In a brief interview with Ambassador Lomondot he said that the huge number of passport applications for renewal and extension was due to closure of the embassy for more than two months and few months duration of lock down period causing visas to expire and near expiration of passports and other related documents. “We had to comply with the precautionary measures as per directives of Kuwait that included 50% skeletal attendance of embassy staff and implementation of appointments for the protection of both the embassy staff and the OFWs from COVID-19 infections” explained Ambassador Lomondot.
More than 10,000 passports have been processed so far by the consular office of the Philippine Embassy and still substantial number is under process and for that a new directive will be implemented commencing on the 25th of November with 150 in the appointment list and allowing 100 walk in applicants every day which will include mainly of expired visas, persons with disability, senior citizens, pregnant women and children in the priority list.
Details of the said directive will be announced by the Philippine Embassy in their social media accounts. “We can only process 250 passports per day and embassy staffs have been working daily from 7 in the morning to 8 in the evening to accommodate and ensure that the 250 passports have been processed and updated. We will continue to provide this service until all appointments finished and return to the usual walk in applications on a daily basis,” stated Ambassador Lomondot. He requested OFWs to comply with the requirements for faster and efficient process of their documents.
Ambassador Lomondot also added that the Philippine Embassy is in the process of looking for a new venue to transfer and this in compliance with security measures for Kuwait’s New Amir who resides close to the Embassy. OFWs will be notified on the new location.
Ambassador Lomondot has been recently appointed by the Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to assume the post of Ambassador in Kuwait and will soon be presenting his credentials to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was the Consul General of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait prior to his appointment and is well versed with the OFWs concerns in the region. OFWs are hopeful for good relations between Kuwait and Philippines and better embassy services with Ambassador Lomondot. “The embassy is here to serve and protect our nationals,” ended Ambassador Lomondot.
