Philippine Embassy Works with Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Protection of Filipino Nationals
Consular officers and staff led by Consul General Charmaine Serna-Chua welcomed the visiting delegation from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Key officers and staff of the Passport Unit of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government visited the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo on 12 September 2019 to discuss the requirements imposed by the Philippine Government upon Japanese nationals entering the country as well as updates on the Philippine electronic passport.
The Embassy’s Consular Section and the visiting delegation had an exchange of views on the admissibility of Japanese nationals into the Philippines, visa requirements for Japanese nationals who wish to stay longer in the country and the immigration inspection procedure for foreign nationals at ports-of-entry.
The delegation also requested for a basic briefing on the security features of the Philippine ePassport to allow them detect fraudulent and tampered travel documents which are routinely presented to them as a form of identification.
Vice Consul Thomas Philip C. Aquino informs the delegation that the PHL ePassport bears a contactless chip which stores the holder’s facial image and personal data.
Consul General Charmaine A. Serna-Chua relayed to the visiting delegation, which was jointly headed by Passport Issuance Consultation Advisers Mr. Chiaki Sato and Mr. Hiroshi Tsuji, Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V’s appreciation for the Metropolitan Government’s continuing engagement with the Embassy. She also underscored the importance of close coordination between the Embassy and the Metropolitan Government to ensure the protection and safety of Filipinos living in Tokyo.
After the briefing, Mr. Sato invited the consular section to visit the passport office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government where technologically advanced Japanese passports are printed and produced.
