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The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in Dubai and Northern Emirates concluded the conduct of the month-long Overseas Voting last 13 may 2013 with its precincts closing at 1500H.

Consul General Frank R. Cimafranca commended the “peaceful, clean and orderly” election period observed in Dubai and N. Emirates. He also expressed his thanks to Filipino nationals who exercised their right to vote in the first automated election system (AES) in the region.

The Consulate General’s polling stations were open from 8:00AM-8:00PM on weekdays and 8:00AM-5:00PM on weekends. Field voting was also conducted in various places through partnerships with organizations, companies, institutions, and churches. Field voting was held in The Philippine School, Far Eastern Private School, Tipanan, Max’s Karama, Max’s Sharjah, Al Attar Mall, Agemono Satwa, Agemono Al Khail Mall, Philippine Supermarket, Chowking Al Ghurair, Hilton Jumeirah Beach Road, Drydocks World, Discover Gardens, St. Michael’s Church, St. Mary’s Church, Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ Fourth Watch in Sharjah and Ajman, Filipino Club Ras al Khaimah, Hilton Fujairah, POLO and more.

A total of 3,545 votes were casted and delivered to the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) based in the Philippine Embassy Abu Dhabi last 14 May 2013.

The Philippines’ Cebu Pacific launched its direct Manila-Dubai flight last 12 May 2013 in a hosted reception at the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai. Department of Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, Ambassador Grace Relucio-Princesa, and Consul General Frank R. Cimafranca graced the occasion aimed to promote why it’s more fun to fly to the Philippines.

Ambassador Princesa was elated with the achievement of Cebu Pacific’s operation with the direct daily flights to Dubai marking the carrier’s 21^st international destination.

Cebu Pacific General Manager Alex Reyes expressed excitement for the airline’s upcoming operations. Reyes also added that additional aircraft were already placed on order to service more destinations and for Filipinos to enjoy its “low fare, great value” product.

Beginning October 2013, Cebu Pacific will fly daily to Dubai which is envisioned to be the first of many planned destinations for Cebu Pacific in the Middle East which hosts one of the world’s largest concentrations of overseas Filipino.

In line with its goal of further boosting inbound travel to the Philippines from the Middle East, the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) participated in this year’s rendition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre last 6-9 May 2013. DOT Assistant Secretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr. led the delegation comprising 11 tour operators, 4 hotel and resort companies, and an airline Cebu Pacific). Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Grace Relucio-Princesa and Consul General Frank R. Cimafranca officially opened the Philippine booth at the travel mart on 6 May 2013.

The participation marked the fifth consecutive year the Philippines has participated in the travel fair universally recognized as the leading travel industry event for the Middle East and pan-Arab region. It is also regarded as the premier regional business forum for inbound, outbound and intra-regional tourism.

Tourist traffic to the Philippines from the Middle East continues to show steady growth as visitor arrivals for the first three months of the year totaled 16,423 for a 22.10 percent increase over the previous year’s figures during the same period. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) registered positive gains of 15.91%.

Since the roll out of the tourism campaign “It’s more fun in the Philippines”, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been actively working with the private sector, other government entities and relevant stakeholders to foster enhancements in the travel and tourism industry. These collaborations paved the way for the increase in tourist arrivals, upgrade of infrastructure, reforms on visa rules, liberalization of the aviation industry as well as the common carriers tax rationalization that serves as an invitation to international air carriers to make the Philippines a part of their primary route offering.

Emirates Airlines announced that it will commence daily direct flights to Clark International Airport starting 1 October 2013. Cebu Pacific will also begin its daily non-stop flights from Dubai to Manila starting 7 October 7 2013.

A series of promotional and marketing activities in the region to continue building on the momentum is also underway. In April 2013, 22 key travel trade industry specialists from Saudi Arabia and the UAE immersed in a more fun experience of the country’s top tourist attractions through a familiarization tour that covered Manila, Bohol, Cebu, Boracay, Clark and Subic.

The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in Dubai and N. Emirates takes note of the increase in the monthly passport application for April 2013 compared to the same period last year. A total of 5,215 passport applications were processed in April of this year as opposed to 3,614 in April 2012. The increase corresponds to 44%. The figure is also higher than March 2013 output by 14%.

The Consulate General of the Philippines in Dubai and N. Emirates notes that its April 2013 visa applications is the highest in the first quarter in three years. The figure also enjoys a 6.5% increase compared with April 2012 figure.

The Q1 average for 2013 is 8.6% higher than 2012 Q1 average, which saw a 13% increase from 2011 Q1.

This number coincides with the second familiarization tour launched this year by the Department of Tourism – Middle East Office, in cooperation with Emirates Airlines. The 2^nd Philippine Familiarization Tour and Business Meeting for eleven (11) key travel trade professionals based in United Arab Emirates covered the destinations Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay and Clark from April 22-30, 2013.

Familiarization (Fam) Tours are productive tools in acquainting, intimating, informing and providing first-hand experience of the Philippine tourism products and services among the foreign travel operators. It is aimed at bringing the travel and tourism industry specialists to experience and visualize that it is indeed more fun in the Philippines. The business meeting, on the other hand, provides opportunity for tabletop negotiations between UAE-based travel agents and their counterparts in the Philippines.

The Consulate General is expecting more visitors to the Philippines with the country’s participation in Arabian Travel Market this May 2013.

Consul General Frank R. Cimafranca graced the first-ever Filipino property exhibition in the MENA region held at the Dusit Thani Hotel last April 25-27, 2013.

The Consul General said that the “Philippine government witnesses a growing demand for back-up plans among OFWs especially in countries that lack social security for expat workers. We encourage Filipinos to think of their future and invest their money wisely. This is a good time to invest while the peso value in dirham is still at its most stable level.”

Tamer El Sherbini, Managing Director of Alpha Conferences which made the property show possible was quoted in a report saying “We foresee success in our first venture with the Filipino expatriate community and envision Pinoy Property Show to be an annual event in Dubai. A second sequence will be held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sometime in October this year. Filipinos form 4.3 per cent of the overall population in the UAE alone and there is about 1.5 million in Saudi Arabia, which make up the fourth largest group of foreigners in the country. The launch of the Pinoy Property Show will cater to a big population in the Middle East.”

The three-day show yielded 1,550 quality visitors, 38 maximum sales for one exhibitor with 7 as minimum sales.

The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in Dubai and the Northern Emirates trails Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in term of voters’ turnout in the region after two weeks of voting as reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat last 01 May 2013. The Consulate General ranks 4^th worldwide with Hong Kong, Riyadh, and Singapore occupying the first three (3) spots. A week earlier, Dubai ranked 11^th worldwide.

The Consulate General partnered with various establishments and setup field voting venues to allow registered voters to cast their votes without having to visit the Consulate General premises.

Polling stations were set up in Karama, Satwa, Deira, Bur Dubai, Al Quoz, Al Safa, Jumeirah Beach, and Rashidiya in Dubai. In Sharjah, polling stations were setup in strategic locations like Far Eastern Private School and City Center.

The Mission has also conducted polling in Ajman, Ras al Khaimah, and Fujairah.

From 6-13 May 2013, the Consulate General shall observe the following timings and venues of overseas voting:

Registered voters are reminded to bring any valid ID or passport as proof of identity.

The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in Dubai and the N. Emirates concluded its two (2) day field voting at the Far Eastern Private School (FEPS) in Sharjah today, 30 April. This coincides with the opening of more field voting areas in Dubai and Sharjah to facilitate the voting process.

The Consulate General recently forged partnership with Chowking Orient UAE and Max’s Restaurant (Sharjah City Center) that field voting may be conducted in their respective establishments.

Below is the available schedule of field voting from 1-4 May 2013:

The Consulate General over the weekend held field voting in Max’s Restaurant (Karama), Agemono Restaurant (Satwa and Al Khail Mall), Ghaliya Travel (Al Attar Mall in Karama), Ras al Khaimah, and Drydocks Dubai, among others.

PLEASE BRING YOUR CURRENT PASSPORT AND YOUR RECEIPT

WHEN CLAIMING YOUR NEW PASSPORT

RELEASING SECTION 8-12AM, 1-5PM, SUN-THU, EXCEPT HOLIDAYS

MAARI PO NINYONG TINGNAN ANG MGA NAUNANG LISTAHAN. HINDI PO IBIG SABIHIN NG AT LEAST 8 WEEKS SA RESIBO AY BIBILANG KAYO NG 8 RELEASES. MAAARING NAKASAMA NA PO ANG INYONG PASSPORT SA MGA NAUNANG NAILATHALA.

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