STATEMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ENRIQUE A. MANALO ON THE 6TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AWARD ON THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ARBITRATION
Statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo on the 6th Anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration
12 July 2022
Today we commemorate the 6th anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration. More than a historic milestone whose value lies in its commemorative significance, we recall 12 July 2016 as the day that affirmed to the community of nations that the rule of law prevails, and that stability, peace and progress can only be attained when founded on a rules-based legal order on the oceans, as it should be everywhere else.
The Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy and actions on the West Philippine Sea.
The year 2022 is also the 40th anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS. UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. There is no recourse to general international law on matters comprehensively covered by the UNCLOS. Compliance with UNCLOS, which represents a delicate balance of the rights and obligations of all States Parties, in its entirety is key to ensuring global and regional peace and the fair and sustainable use of the oceans.
The Award, an affirmation of UNCLOS’ dispute resolution mechanisms, not only sets reason and right in the South China Sea, but is an inspiration for how matters should be considered – through reason and right – by states facing similarly challenging circumstances.
It authoritatively ruled that the claim of historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’ had no basis in law and is without legal effect.
It upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone.
It affirmed that certain actions within the Philippines’ EEZ violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights and were thus unlawful; that large-scale reclamation and construction of artificial islands caused severe environmental harm in violation of international conventions; that the large-scale harvesting of endangered marine species damaged the marine ecosystem; and that actions taken since the commencement of the arbitration had aggravated the disputes.
These findings are no longer within the reach of denial and rebuttal, and are conclusive as they are indisputable. The Award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories. At the same time, we welcome the support of a growing list of countries for the Award.
The Award benefits the world across the board. We do not see it as directed at any other country, near or far. We see it as it should be seen: as favoring all which are similarly situated by clarifying definitively a legal situation beyond the reach of arms to change. It puts this aspect of international law beyond the limit of prescription.
And so we say once again: the present that we need and the future that we want is a peaceful South China Sea. The Philippines is committed to this for as long as it exists. END
PUBLIC ADVISORY NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR PASSPORT AND LEGAL SERVICES OF HOUSTON PCG
PUBLIC ADVISORY
NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR PASSPORT AND
LEGAL SERVICES OF HOUSTON PCG
The Philippine Consulate General in Houston wishes to inform the public that it has created separate dedicated e-mail addresses to handle queries on the following matters:
- Passport Services – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Legal services – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Notarization of private documents for use in the Philippines
- Requests for certifications and certified true copies
- Requests for video conference hearings for appearance in Philippine courts
- Other queries involving legal matters
The public is advised to address their queries involving the above-mentioned subjects to the corresponding e-mail addresses.
END
PUBLIC ADVISORY METHODS OF AVAILING CONSULAR SERVICES IN THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN HOUSTON
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PUBLIC ADVISORY
METHODS OF AVAILING CONSULAR SERVICES IN
THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN HOUSTON
The Philippine Consulate General in Houston (Houston PCG) wishes to inform the public of the following guidelines in order to clarify the means of which the public may avail of consular services in the Consulate General:
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PRIVATE DOCUMENTS FOR USE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Applicants wishing to have their private documents, such as special power of attorney (SPA), affidavits, private contracts, or business-related documents, acknowledged by the Consulate General for use in the Philippines must submit their documents by personally appearing at the Philippine Consulate General in Houston on a walk-in basis, without need of any prior appointment.
Processed documents can be mailed back to the applicant after three (3) working days upon acceptance, provided that the applicant submits a self-addressed stamped envelope with prepaid postage and tracking number such as the USPS Priority Mail/Express Mail. This will enable the document owner to track document when mailed.
CIVIL REGISTRY SERVICES
Submission of requirements for civil registry services (i.e. report of marriage, report of birth, and report of death) may be done either done by mailing the application together with other requirements to the Philippine Consulate General in Houston at 9990 Richmond Ave. Suite 100N Houston, TX 77042 or by submitting the requirements personally at the Philippine Consulate General in Houston on a walk-in basis, without need of any prior appointment.
Processed documents can be released by the following means:
- By picking up the document at the Consulate General between 9:00am to 3:00pm after three (3) working days after submission of the requirement and payment of fees. In case the document owner will not be available to receive it personally, a representative must show the claim stub/Official receipt, an authorization letter with the document owner’s signature, and valid IDs of both the document owner and the representative. No prior appointment is necessary.
- By Mail: Processed documents can be mailed back to the applicant after three (3) working days upon acceptance, provided that the applicant submits a self-addressed stamped envelope with prepaid postage and tracking number such as the USPS Priority Mail/Express Mail. This will enable the document owner to track document when mailed.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP SERVICES
Applications for dual citizenship may be done by mailing the application together with other requirements to the Philippine Consulate General in Houston at 9990 Richmond Ave. Suite 100N Houston, TX 77042. If all of the documentary requirements are in order, applicants shall be notified by e-mail of the approval of the application and the schedule of the virtual oath-taking.
The application may also be delivered personally by the applicant to the Philippine Consulate General on a walk-in basis without need of prior appointment. The applicant shall, thereafter, be notified by e-mail of the schedule of the virtual oath-taking.
Personal on-site appearance before the Consulate General is required for the signing and claiming of dual citizenship documents and will be scheduled accordingly.
The originals of all supporting documents should be presented on-site as a precondition to the claiming and signing of dual citizenship documents.
Applicants are also advised to bring cash for the payment of fees.
PASSPORT SERVICES
Passport services can be availed of in the Consulate General only by obtaining an appointment through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Global Online Appointment System, which is accessible through www.passport.gov.ph.
TRAVEL DOCUMENT
Travel documents may be availed of through the following means:
- Through mail by sending all requirements together with a self-addressed return envelope, with appropriate stamps for express or priority mail with tracking numbers via US Postal Service.
- In person
VISAS
All applications for 9(a) visas must be lodged online by visiting the website www.visa.gov.ph. After lodging the application online, the non-immigrant application form generated from www.visa.gov.ph must be mailed together with all other requirements to The Philippine Consulate General in Houston 9990 Richmond Avenue, Suite 100N Houston, TX 77042, or by submitting the requirements personally at the Philippine Consulate General in Houston on a walk-in basis, without need of any prior appointment.
Applicants may receive their passport affixed with the appropriate visa after a processing time of ten (10) working days. Applicants are advised to schedule their flight at least two (2) weeks after submitting their visa application.
MORE INFORMATION
More information on the above-mentioned services, including the requirements can be found on the official website of the Philippine Consulate General in Houston (https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ ) on the following web pages:
- Acknowledgment of private documents for use in the Philippines - https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/legal-and-notarial-services
- Civil Registry Services
- Report of Birth - https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/civil-registry/report-of-birth
- Report of Marriage - https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/civil-registry/report-of-marriage
- Report of Death - https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/civil-registry/report-of-death
- Dual Citizenship Services - https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/dual-citizenship
- Passport Services – https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/passport-services
- Travel Document – https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/travel-document
- Visas - https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/visa-services
END
PUBLIC ADVISORY APPOINTMENTS FOR PASSPORT SERVICES
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PUBLIC ADVISORY
APPOINTMENTS FOR PASSPORT SERVICES
The Philippine Consulate General in Houston wishes to inform the public that appointments for passport services in the Consulate General may only be made through the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Global Online Appointment System (GOAS), which is accessible through www.passport.gov.ph.
The Consulate General is no longer affiliated with any third party services or websites for passport appointments, including the Qless website.
In this regard, the Consulate General shall only honor appointments made through GOAS, and not those obtained from any other websites or sources.
Passport appointments through GOAS can be obtained free of charge. New appointments open every 15th day of the month for the following month (i.e. appointments for May 2022 will open on 15 April 2022).
Below is an infographic showing the process of booking an appointment through GOAS.
PUBLIC ADVISORY CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS FOR PASSPORT SERVICES THROUGH WWW.PASSPORT.GOV.PH
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PUBLIC ADVISORY
CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS FOR PASSPORT
SERVICES THROUGH WWW.PASSPORT.GOV.PH
The Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in Houston (Houston PCG) wishes to request all passport applicants to cancel their appointments obtained in the Department of Foreign Affairs passport appointment system website, www.passport.gov.ph, if they are unable to appear on the day of their appointments. This will free up appointment slots which can be booked by other people interested in availing of passport services in the Consulate General.
Below is the step-by-step procedure for cancelling the appointment:
- Access www.passport.gov.ph.
- Click on ‘Manage Existing Appointment’
- Enter appointment code and email address
- Check Im not a robot and click view details.
- Click the 'Cancel Appointment' button
- "Appointment with Appointment Code <Appointment Code> was successfully CANCELLED…" message will display;
- Open your email to see the confirmation of cancellation
- To set a new appointment, go back to appointment and either choose Start Individual Appointment or Start Group Appointment
For more information, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
END
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