August 2009

CONSULATE CONDUCTS FORUMS ON DUAL CITIZENSHIP AND OAV ACROSS NSW

29 July 2009 – The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney is conducting
forums with Filipino communities across New South Wales to promote the Dual
Citizenship program, which allows Filipino-Australians to regain their Philippine
citizenship without affecting their Australian citizenship.

Consul General Eva G. Betita and officers of the Philippine Consulate have
held talks with former Filipinos in Campbelltown, a number of venues in Blacktown,
Saint Mary, Lismore, Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, and Dubbo to provide information on
the Dual Citizenship program of the Philippines.

“Many former Filipinos desire to regain their Philippine citizenship, but only
need the opportunity to go about it. The Consulate wants to help make dual
citizenship accessible to former Filipinos, who are spread across the state, by
undertaking mobile consular missions to cities and towns where there is a
concentration of Filipino-Australians,” said Consul General Betita.

The Philippines enacted the “Dual Citizenship Law” in September 2003 to
establish a procedure for former Filipinos who have become naturalised citizens of
other countries to re-acquire Philippine citizenship without affecting their current
citizenship status.

By the end of June 2009, about 2,500 Philippine-born Australians have reacquired
their Philippine citizenship through the Consulate since the Dual Citizenship
Law took effect. The Consulate notes that its number of dual citizenship applicants
has been increasing since the year started.

The Consulate is also rallying Philippine dual citizens, as well as Filipinos
working in New South Wales, to register as overseas absentee voters (OAV) for the
Philippine Presidential elections in May 2010. “The registration of OAVs ends on
31 August 2009, and we are trying to reach out to as many Filipinos as possible who
want to exercise their right to choose their next leader. For this reason, the Consulate
conducts Filipino OAV registration wherever we confer dual citizenship,” the Consul
General said.

Any Filipino-Australian association or group of Filipino-Australians can request
the Consulate to hold a dual citizenship and OAV forum in their area. Interested
parties may query with the Philippine Consulate through its email
contact@philippineconsulate.com.au or telephone 02 9262 7377.