The Philippines Embassy in Riyadh said its outreach program, the EOW (Embassy On Wheels) team was able to extend 1,829 consular services to its nationals based in the Eastern Province. The embassy also stated in a separate statement that it was closed from Dec. 30 to Jan 1, 2015.

The 43rd and final “Embassy on Wheels (EOW)” consular outreach mission this year was held last week at the Al-Jazeera International School in Alkhobar in the Eastern Province.

The EOW was part of the embassy’s outreach program throughout the year to serve its nationals across the Kingdom especially those in remote areas.

According to the embassy’s statement, the EOW team was able to process 464 e-passport applications, 195 notary services, 26 birth registration certificates and also released 1,123 new e-Passports to OFWs in the Eastern province.

The mobile team also conducted surveys to improve customers’ services through client feedback. From a total of 400 OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers), 162 responded to the survey, it said.

The team was led by Consul General Marshall Louis Alferez.

The official expressed his appreciation to the Filipino community leaders and volunteers in the province for their support and cooperation during the two-day activity.

He said these were the last activities of the EOW for this year and that the embassy hopes to increase the frequency of the consular outreach mission next year to serve more Filipino nationals.

Alferez said that the EOW schedule for 2015 has already been posted on the embassy’s official website while appointments for new passports or their renewal are open for booking during the next EOW round, which will be held at the same place from Jan 9-10.

In its bid to facilitate its nationals, the Philippine Embassy introduced several years ago an online service which citizens could use to make appointments before traveling to Riyadh for their passport renewals.

The move was warmly welcomed by the OFWs as it has saved them the journey to Riyadh or appearing at the embassy without an appointment.