PH officials provide consular services, skills seminar in Trinidad and Tobago

Dr. Julieta Danlag (left photo), president of the Filipino Society of Trinidad and Tobago, swearing allegiance to the Philippines as a dual citizen. A workshop participant (right photo) enjoys a hands-on sushi making experience. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consular services and a skills seminar reached Filipino overseas workers in Trinidad and Tobago, where some 500 Filipinos are employed in the medical field, accounting, engineering and construction, and household services.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, led by Consul General Iric Cruz Arribas and assisted by the Philippine Honorary Consulate and volunteers from the Filipino community, held the consular outreach mission in  the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the southernmost island country in the Caribbean.

The mission processed a total of 206 passport applications and 7 civil registration documents, 44 OWWA membership renewals, 15 employment contract verifications, and 2 dual citizenship applications.

Consul General Arribas addressing the participants of the OWWA Skills Demonstration Seminar for OFWs at Trinidad and Tobago. CONTRIBUTED

In addition, a skills demonstration seminar was held by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office –  Washington, DC. with 34 OFWs learning about the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, sushi making, balloon making and floral arranging.

The seminar was part of the reintegration program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration aimed at providing practical skills to OFWs should they decide to return to the Philippines and become an entrepreneur.

Trinidad and Tobago’s  economy is primarily industrial, with an emphasis on petroleum and petrochemicals.