Press Release 112-2012

08 July 2012

Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mr. Ezzedin H. Tago led the officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh in a series of training and refresher courses on “Embassy Services, Programs and Procedures” started with refresher courses to enhance productivity, efficiency and improve skills of the personnel to be able to grasp beyond their reach and fulfill their mandate in the Embassy.

The first refresher course on Computer Fundamentals, Office Productivity, Basic Computer Networking and Troubleshooting begun on 08 March to 22 April 2012 which was conducted by Computer Society of Filipinos International, Incorporated or Comsofil and attended by officers and staff of the Embassy and attached agencies as well as some dependents. The seminar was held at the lobby of the Chancery during weekends, Thursdays, and it was completed in several lectures.

During the distribution of certificates to successful participants, Ambassador Tago encouraged all personnel to take advantage in using the skills learned during the training in the performance of duties and to actively participate in the ongoing in-service training being conducted by the Embassy to improve the services to public.

The Ambassador has expanded the seminars into a series of lectures to strengthen and professionalize its personnel and attached agencies in extending services to public and to implement the vision and mission of the President, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy. The lectures included:

• Office decorum and protocol
• Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
• Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
• Improving organizational skills
• Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 6713
• Briefing on Consular Services
• Briefing on Panatag Shoal
• Answering phone calls
• Preparing effective communications including public diplomacy
• Rules and procedures on assistance to nationals for ATN and POLO

The lectures were presented by selected officers and staff of the Embassy and attached services.

The series of seminars will resume in July 2012 with the following subjects to be presented in the training:

• Human trafficking
• Identifying human trafficking cases
• Philippine laws on human trafficking
• Saudi law against human trafficking
• Saudi history, customs and traditions.
• Islamic Shariah criminal and personal laws
• Cultural and tourism diplomacy
• Website and social media management and administration

The lectures are held after working hours and on the weekends when the Embassy has no scheduled outreach programs for consular services and Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) registration.

A few months ago, the Embassy staff also enrolled in an Arabic introductory course offered by the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).

The Embassy is going to conduct year long seminars for its staff to ensure that they are equipped with the right tools to provide better serves to the public, and also fulfill its other mandates.