GOVPH

PHL EMBASSY OFFICIALS CALL ON SPECIAL BRANCH, BANGLADESH Police

PHL Embassy Third Secretary and Vice Consul Leo Marco C. Vidal (third from left) conferring a token of appreciation to Additional Inspector General (IG) of Special Branch Mir Shahidul Islam (center).

13 November 2019, Dhaka – To further the already close relationship between the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the local authorities in Bangladesh, Third Secretary and Vice-Consul Leo Marco C. Vidal with Embassy Assistance-to-nationals (ATN) Officer and Attaché Joany G. Margallo-Lucas and Security Officer and Attaché Marcelino Solano Jr. met with the officials of the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police in Dhaka headed by Additional Inspector General (IG) Mir Shahidul Islam, BPM (Bar), PPM on 12 November 2019.

The Special Branch, particularly the Security Control Organization (SCO) Wing led by Special Superintendent of Police Md. Manirujjaman, is in-charge of the security of the foreigners in the country and provides inputs for visa-related matters.

The meeting also discussed cooperation on information drive to the Filipino Community on visa matters and security in the country.  Also on behalf of the PHL Ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E. Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo, Vice-Consul Vidal thanked the Special Branch for its immediate response on cases involving Filipino nationals in need of their assistance. END

PHL ambassador PROMOTES BUSINESS RELATIONS BETWEEN PHILIPPINES AND SRI LANKA

PHL Ambassador to Sri Lanka H.E. Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo (center) with Mr. Michael Tan (2^nd from left), President and CEO of Pilmico, and executives of Pilmico and Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

26 September 2019, Colombo – Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh, with concurrent jurisdiction over Sri Lanka, H.E. Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo, was honored in a luncheon organized by Pilmico Foods Corporation and Aboitiz Group during the Embassy’s Diplomatic, Consular, and ATN Outreach Mission in Sri Lanka. Also in attendance at the luncheon was the Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mangapala Yapa.

Pilmico, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Group, has recently acquired Singapore-based Gold Coin Management Holdings, Inc. which has significant operations in Sri Lanka.

During the luncheon, the Ambassador highlighted the need to increase two-way trade and investment flows and to pursue potential economic cooperation that both the Philippines and Sri Lanka can engage in for mutual benefit. 

(Left to Right) PHL Ambassador H.E. Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo, LKA BOI Director General Champika Malalgoda and PHL Honorary Consul Sriyal Dissanayake.

Following the luncheon, the Ambassador also met with Sri Lanka BOI Director General Ms. Champika Malalgoda. Both sides agreed on the need to create a supportive environment conducive for business interests through enabling laws, regulations, security, and safety conditions that would protect investments.

The Ambassador also met and discussed investment opportunities in the Philippines with members of the Sri Lanka-Philippines Business Council (SLPBC) at a dinner hosted by the Council in his honor. END.

APPRECIATION PROGRAM AND 1^st BRIEFING ON CONSULAR /

ATN MATTERS WITH FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN SRI LANKA

Left Photo: PHL Ambassador H.E. Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo conferring a Plaque of Appreciation to Atty. Florence Roshanthi de Me. Right Photo: PHL Ambassador H.E. Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo (left), with Honorary Consul Sriyal Dissanayake (2^nd from right) and Vice Consul Leo Marco C. Vidal (1^st from right), conferring a Certificate of Appreciation to Ms. Vasana, Philippine Consulate Staff in Sri Lanka.

28 September 2019, Colombo – The Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh with concurrent jurisdiction over Sri Lanka conferred plaques of appreciation to seven individuals for their contribution to the Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) functions to Filipinos in Sri Lanka from 2014 to 2019 at Hilton Colombo Residence, Sri Lanka.

The awardees were Ms. Zeny V. Gadut (Filipino), Ms. Ma. Florian C. Abrecea (Filipino), Ms. Lorna Hettiaratchy (Filipino), Ms. Jocelyn Joy Srikantha (Filipino), Ms. Alona R. Liyanage (Filipino), Ms. Virginia Pereea (Filipino), and Atty. Florence Roshanthi de Mel (Sri Lanka).  The awardees were helpful in terms of sourcing repatriation fund for urgent cases, as translator in court hearings providing pro-bono legal service, assistance to Filipino’s welfare and materialization of the Embassy and Consulate’s activities.  The Embassy also conferrred certificates of appreciation to the staff of the Philippine Consulate in Sri Lanka.

Briefing on Consular / ATN Matters by Philippine Consulate in Sri Lanka Chief-of-Staff Mr. Nalin Perera.

The Embassy also conducted the first ever Briefing on Consular / ATN matters with the Filipino Community in Sri Lanka led by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Leo Marco C. Vidal, ATN Officer and Attaché Joany G. Margallo-Lucas and PHL Consulate in Sri Lanka Chief-of-Staff Mr. Nalin Perera. In coordination with the Philippine Consulate in Sri Lanka, the PHL Embassy answered inquiries raised on authentication of employment documents and proper filing of cases and complaint, especially on domestic cases.  The Embassy also discussed the newly implemented health policy of Sri Lanka for residence visa applicants. END.