PH Consulate Holds Second Leg of Karaban in Ras Al Khaimah
12 April 2025, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE – Almost 500 members of the Filipino community in Ras Al Khaimah trooped to Hilton Garden Inn for the second leg of Karaban, the special consular outreach mission of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates together with the Migrant Workers Office – Dubai. The one-day event was a much-awaited activity for the community as they were able to avail Philippine government services without having to make the trip to Dubai.
“Maraming salamat po sa pagbisita sa amin dito sa RAK. Magpapa-verify po ako ng kontrata pero hindi po ako makapunta sa Dubai dahil busy. Mabuti naman po nakapunta kayo dito,” said Anthony, a hotel employee who intends to go home to the Philippines for vacation.
Through the Karaban project, which aims to bring the Consulate’s services closer to the community, the Filipino community in Ras Al Khaimah was able to avail essential consular services including passport renewal, notarization of legal documents (e.g. special power of attorney, affidavits, etc.), and civil registration; as well as services rendered by the Migrant Workers Office – Dubai such as contract verification, membership registration for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System (SSS) services, Pag-IBIG Fund Services, Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) support and free legal consultations.
Aside from the various Philippine government services offered, the Consulate’s Overseas Voting team likewise assisted all the participants in checking their eligibility to vote for the 2025 National and Local Elections and guided them in the pre-enrollment stage, which would allow them to participate in the online voting beginning 13 April 2025.
The Karaban was also a good opportunity for the Filipino community to receive updates from the Consulate’s and MWO-Dubai’s officials regarding the various services offered. It was also a chance for the community members to ask questions and raise concerns.
And while awaiting their documents, Filipino community members also had the chance to take advantage of valuable financial advice through the Financial Literacy Seminar which discussed budgeting and saving, debt management, emergency fund, insurance, and investments. The session was moderated by Mr. Humphrey Natividad while the speakers included Ms. Elsa Belleza, Ms. Franz Angeles, and Mr. Ben Lebig.
The Consulate will hold the next leg of Karaban in the emirate of Ajman on 3 May 2025. The Filipino Community in Ajman and the neighboring emirates of Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah are invited to participate in the one-day activity. Interested parties may sign up online via https://bit.ly/2025AJMKaraban. END