SAN FRANCISCO – Philippine Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer convened the 2024 planning conference on January 11, 2024 with officers of the consulate and partner government agencies to coordinate plans and activities for the year.
Participating in the planning session were heads of Economic, Consular, Political, Cultural, Assistance-to-Nationals, and Administrative Sections, Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Silicon Valley, Philippine Department of Tourism, and the Philippine Center Management Board.
In his welcome remarks, Consul General Ferrer noted the significant gains achieved by the consulate in 2023, including the support it extended during the official visit and participation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in San Francisco, and the lead role it played in the 2023 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour, among others. He thanked the consulate team for all its hard work under the one country team framework, and said that he looked forward to continuing to advance Philippine interests, and to serving the more than 1.3 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans across its 10-state jurisdiction.
During the planning session, the various sections and partner government agencies presented their accomplishments in 2023 and priorities for 2024.
In 2023, the Consulate provided a total of more than 40,600 consular services. It conducted nine consular outreach missions to Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming, and registered more than 8,800 new overseas voters for the 2023 National Elections.
The Consulate also garnered international recognition for its initiatives for the development and growth of the Philippine startup ecosystem at the inaugural Startup Ecosystem Stars Award in December 2023 in Paris.
Consul General Ferrer noted that for 2024, the consulate, together with its partner government agencies, will continue to deliver efficient and timely consular services, to advance economic diplomacy, to enhance relations with state, federal, and local officials, to advocate for the rights and welfare of Filipino nationals, and to promote Filipino culture and heritage. (PCGSF Release)