PH Missions shorten office hours
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2020 05:44:35 +0000
Four Philippine missions shortened their office operations and enforced online appointments as part of precautionary measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak
The Philippine Embassy in Tehran, Iran shortened its operating hours from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon local time because of the rising number of confirmed cases of the Covid-19.
“All embassy clients are requested to wear masks within Embassy premises in consideration of our kababayans (fellowmen), other consular clients, as well as emvassy consular personnel who are attending to your various applications,” it said.
The Philippine Embassy in Seoul also shortened its office hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. because of the rising coronavirus cases in South Korea.
“All clients are requested to wear masks within the Embassy premises in consideration of our kababayans who are availing of Embassy services,” the Embassy said in its Facebook post.
“Filipinos in South Korea are reminded to take necessary health precautions as well as to avoid large crowds and gatherings,” it added.
In Hong Kong, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) implemented temporary safety measures in its operations.
Its operating hours for public transactions will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. until further notice “with the objective of protecting the Filipino community from the disease.”
“Rest assured that all passport applications with confirmed schedules before or after said adjusted office hours will be accommodated,” the PCG said in its Facebook page.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan has enforced “online appointments” for passport applications starting March 2.
The Department of Health reported that as of February 24, 63 Filipinos have tested positive for Covid-19 in various countries and two have recovered.
The biggest group of 59 infected Filipinos were those aboard virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship that docked in Yokohama, Japan.
Two other cases were reported in the United Arab Emirates, one in Hong Kong, and one in Singapore.
Bernadette Tamayo