GOVPH

Statement of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines on the Passing of Pope Francis, 21 April 2025

The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the State of Qatar rues the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), the first from the Global South to head the Catholic faithful in a world marred by the challenges of modern day realities.

His pastoral and state visit to the Philippines in 2015 was, in many respects, an articulation of his profound regard for diaspora communities, of Filipinos far removed from their country of birth, firm in the conviction that Filipinos’ spirituality and richness of faith are vital to nation-building.

“As I begin my visit to this country, I cannot fail to mention the Philippines’ important role in fostering understanding and cooperation among the countries of Asia,” Pope Francis said. “I would also mention the oft neglected yet real contribution of Filipinos of the diaspora to the life and welfare of the societies in which they live. It is precisely in the light of the rich cultural and religious heritage of which your country is proud that I leave you with a challenge and a word of prayerful encouragement: May the deepest spiritual values of the Filipino people continue to find expression in your efforts to provide your fellow citizens with an integral human development. In this way, each person will be able to fulfill his or her potential, and thus contribute wisely and well to the future of this country.”

The Embassy joins the Catholic faithful in the Philippines, the State of Qatar, and elsewhere in the world in mourning the passing of a beloved figure.

Statement of the National Maritime Council of the Philippines on the Use of the “West Philippine Sea” Label in Google Maps, 18 April 2025

Department of Foreign Affairs Offers New and Improved Apostille System for Faster and More Effective Services to the Public, 21 April 2025

MANILA 21 April 2025 — The Department of Foreign Affairs informs the public of the recent changes implemented in authenticating PSA and NBI documents and the enhancements made to its Online Appointment System for Apostille services.

Fully Online Processing of Apostille for PSA Documents

Our clients may now request an Apostille for their Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) documents fully online. With this system, the clients can apply for a PSA Document (i.e. birth certificate, marriage certificate, CENOMAR, etc.) and have it apostillized through the e-Apostille system. For more information, you may visit this link: Apostille Service for PSA Documents

Apostille for NBI Clearance

On Monday, April 14, 2025, a new system was implemented for the Apostillization of NBI Clearance, wherein clients will upload a copy of their NBI Clearance through a dedicated portal. After the said process, clients may now go straight to claiming their apostillized NBI Clearance on the given schedule. For more information, you may visit this link: Apostille Service for NBI Clearance

Changes to the Appointment Booking Process for Apostille Services Starting April 14, 2025

Under the enhanced appointment system, a Php 200 fee is required to be paid online in order to secure an appointment slot. This is one way to ensure that only legitimate clients will be securing the appointment slots. The collected fee is non-refundable if the appointment is cancelled without a valid reason. Moreover, we strongly advise all applicants to ensure they readily have the document/s they intend to have Apostilled before booking for an appointment. For more details, kindly visit this link: New System for Apostille

The DFA continues its system enhancement efforts while ensuring that the new initiatives would provide a better experience and more efficient service, especially for ease of appointment booking and Apostille processing. The public’s support and cooperation is much appreciated as the DFA continually strives to deliver world-class quality consular services. END