RIYADH — The Philippine Embassy held another Embassy On Wheels (EOW) program in Al-Khobar on April 25-26 successfully. Consul General Marshall Louis M. Alferez led the five-member consular team, and the mission was able to process 712 passport applications, 55 passport extensions, 23 birth registrations, and 128 notarial and authentication services. In addition, 329 new passports were released during the two-day activity. Four passport encoders from the Eastern Province community augmented the embassy team. The turnout for the appointments was at its highest, with around 70 percent of those who made appointments showing up. “We ask applicants to cancel their appointments on the system if they are not able to make it, so that it creates an opportunity for others to use the time judiciously,” said Consul General Alferez in a press statement. He thanked the Filipino community in the Eastern Province, especially the many volunteers, who have continued to make the embassy's consular missions successful. The Embassy on Wheels will return to Al-Khobar on May 23-24 at the Al Jazeera International School in Dammam to extend various consular services. Passport renewal is by appointment, and applicants are advised to visit the embassy website www.philembassy-riyadh.org to secure an appointment through online. The embassy reiterates its advice to all Filipinos to check the validity of their passports, and to ensure the passport is valid for at least six months after the date of intended travel as many countries do no tallow travel with a passport that has a validity of less than six months. — SG
