PHNOM PENH, 26 November 2019 – For the first time since the institutionalization of the Multi-Agency Service Mission (MASM) in Cambodia six years ago, a total of eleven (11) government agencies offered their services to Filipinos throughout Cambodia during the 11th edition of MASM held on 2-3 November 2019 at the Embassy’s premises.
Twenty-four (24) representatives from eleven (11) government agencies, namely the Department of Labor and Employment’s Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Immigration and Commission on Filipinos Overseas participated in this bi-annual event.
608 Filipinos working and residing in Cambodia went to the Embassy and availed themselves of the government services offered, ranging from processing of Overseas Employment Certificates, OWWA membership registration and renewal, issuance and renewal of NBI clearance, renewal of LTO driver’s license, opening a DBP savings account, processing applications on Housing and Multi-Purpose Loans and the Modified Pag-IBIG II (MP2), PhilHealth membership updating and registration, SSS membership updating and registration, request for civil registry documents, and consultations with the Bureau of Immigration and Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
The Embassy’s consular section was also open during the weekend to process passport renewals, issue and renew Embassy identification cards, process civil registry records, and perform notarial services.
Filipino community members hailed the conduct of the one-stop-shop MASM as it enabled them to avail of onsite document processing and services from various agencies, which would have taken them several days to complete if done in the Philippines.
“The Embassy continues to act on the mandate given by the President in making available to overseas Filipinos the government services they need, most especially because of the growing number of Filipinos in Cambodia,” Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Myca Magnolia M. Fischer said.
A client during the MASM expressed appreciation to the Embassy saying, “Salamat po sa maganda nyong serbisyo at mababait na staff.” Another lauded the government agencies part of the MASM with the words, “Malaking pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga agency sa Pilipinas na nagbigay ng serbisyo dito sa Cambodia. Magagaling at very accommodating ang mga staff. Great job!” One commented that she experienced, “very smooth and fast processing for pregnant women.”
The Embassy schedules the conduct of the MASM prior to long holidays in Cambodia when most Overseas Filipinos go home to the Philippines for vacation. Instead of transacting business directly with frontline government offices in Manila or in the provinces, they are able to spend quality time with their respective families during their holidays in the Philippines. END
