Page 36 - 2018 JAN-JUN KAAKBAY

36 January to June
2018

PH Consulate Hosted 4th Warden System GA

The Philippine Consulate General held the 4th Geographic
Warden System General Assembly on 05 May 2018 at the

Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York. In attendance
were more than 35 wardens and FilCom leaders from New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Maine as well as officers of the Filipino American Legal Defense
and Education Fund, who have been very actively involved in
assisting the Consulate on various cases as well as community
education events.

Three resource persons discussed various issues during Deputy Consul General Tate, Acting Head of Post, is welcoming the Warden
the event. A representative of the NYC Mayor Office of Immigrant GA participants.

DFA Undersecretary Arriola Assures Public of Affairs (MOIA) spoke on programs of the Office on the rules
Speedy Assistance to Nationals Overseas and developments on immigration particularly in the light of
NYC’s status as a “sanctuary city.” Post is currently
working with MOIA on the latter’s IDNYC program to reach
out to undocumented Filipinos in New York City. An IDNYC
outreach will be hosted by this Post tentatively scheduled in
June.

Atty. Arvin Amatorio, Council President of
Bergenfield, New Jersey, Warden and an active FilCom
leader discussed issues affecting immigrants’ rights. He
particularly delved and expounded on trafficking cases, in
relation to the U-visas and T-Visa that may be availed of by
victims of domestic violence and trafficking, respectively.

A representative of NYC Emergency Management

focused his presentation on emergency preparedness, both

L-R Usec. Sarah Arriola, Hosts Irma Aspillaga and Joel Inocencio, and Consul for man-made and natural calamities. He also touched on
severe weather emergencies and how one can be best
General Theresa Dizon-De Vega
prepared for all types of emergencies. He also encouraged
Undersecretary Sarah Arriola was the special guest of the wardens to help prepare and respond to emergencies
the popular Facebook-based social media program “I Am Pinoy by joining the community emergency response teams in
Proud Ako” Live Sunday Express Edition on 18 February 2018 at their areas of jurisdictions.
the IAPPA studio in Queens, New York.
On the part of the Consulate, Deputy Consul
During the over one hour broadcast, Usec. Arriola General Kerwin Orville C. Tate, Acting Head of the
assured viewers that the Philippine Government is exerting all Philippine Consulate General, he apprised the participants
possible efforts to respond effectively, efficiently, and in a timely of the programs and activities of the Consulate’s Assistance
manner to the needs of Filipinos in distress all over the world. to Nationals and the developments regarding the Philippine

She noted that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued government’s policy on the delivery of assistance to
marching orders from the start of his administration for nationals particularly on the use of ATN/LAF funds. He also
government to address the plight of overseas Filipinos and work reiterated to the wardens the importance of their role as
not only for their well-being but also their comfort. leaders of the Filipino community in their areas of
jurisdictions and on how they are counted on to quickly and

A wide range of topics were covered during the show effectively extend necessary assistance to Filipinos in need.

from the ongoing repatriation efforts of Filipinos availing of the

current government amnesty in Kuwait, the adjustments made in

the utilization of the DFA’s Assistance-to-Nationals Fund and

Legal Assistance Fund to make both more responsive to the

needs of overseas Filipino nationals to combatting illegal

recruitment and preventing labor and human trafficking.

Undersecretary Arriola was joined during the broadcast L-R : Resource speakers, Atty. Arwin Amatorio, Ms. David Sousa, from the
by Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega and the show’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and Mr. Kevin Leung of the NYc Emergency
regular hosts Irma Aspillaga and Joel Inocencio. Management.