RP consulate in HK still open Sundays

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday that the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong will remain open on Sundays in order to serve thousands of Filipino workers there.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said he has instructed the consul general in Hong Kong, Corazon Belmonte-Jover, to keep the consulate open on Sundays "in keeping with the obligation to promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and facilitate the delivery of government services."

Migrante, a non-government organization that looks after the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, recently said the consulate has been circulating a survey containing a proposal to close shop on Sundays.

"It is an outrageous proposal that will deprive thousands of our compatriots the services they need," Vicky Casia-Cabantac, acting chairperson of Migrante Sectoral Party-Hong Kong, said in an earlier statement.

The proposal would adversely affect 200,000 Filipinos who work in Hong Kong, mostly as domestic helpers, and who get only one day a week off, usually Sunday.

However, DFA spokesman Gilberto Asuque said there was no protest from Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

"There is no protest. The consulate is still open and they are conducting the survey to suit the needs of Filipinos there," he said.

The survey merely asked to determine if Filipino workers there want the consulate to revert to its original working hours and have the mission open Fridays and closed during the weekend.

At present, the mission is closed on Fridays and Saturdays but open on Sundays.

"The reason why the consulate proposes to close on weekends is because they also want to conduct an outreach program in Macau, which is under the consulate’s jurisdiction," Asuque said.

In a statement, Belmonte-Jover said the consulate in Hong Kong will remain open on Sundays.