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- What is the Virtual Consulate of Davao? Why are you doing this?
- Why has the United States chosen Davao as the first location for this Virtual Consulate?
- Why don’t you just open a “real” consulate instead of this virtual consulate?
- What is the difference between a Virtual Consulate and a real consulate? What services can be obtained through the Virtual consulate?
- Is the Virtual Consulate just a website?
- What is the VPO and what is his/her role?
- What other Virtual Consulates are planned and when will they open?
- You have a Travel Advisory warning Americans not to travel to Davao? How does that reconcile with opening a Virtual Consulate?
- When is the next visit by Embassy staff to Davao City?
What is the Virtual Consulate of Davao? Why are you
doing this?
The US Government would like to extend its engagement in the City of Davao. We want to build upon existing relationships and develop new ones with the peoples and city of Davao. We want to further support American citizens who have an interest in Davao, and we would also like to foster increased cultural and commercial relationships between Davao and the United States. We can increase our engagement and offer some of the benefits of a permanent consulate by launching a Virtual Consulate in Davao.
The Virtual Consulate will enable us to utilize communications technologies along with our traditional outreach efforts in order to extend our engagement. US Virtual Consulates are already operational in Russia, Brazil and Egypt. We hope to launch them in several sites in the Philippines as well. The Virtual Consulate will allow us to develop deep and productive relationships with many varied audiences in Davao by combining electronic medium with traditional outreach.
Why has the United States chosen Davao as the first location for this Virtual Consulate?
. According to the 2000 Census, Davao is the city with the 2nd highest population in the Philippines (after Manila). There are a large number of American citizens residing in Davao. There are many significant institutional relationships already in place between the US Government and Davao – such as various USAID programs, an American Studies Resource Center located within the Ateneo de Davao University, and varied outreach initiatives that the US Embassy regularly conducts.
The US Government already has an Embassy in Manila (Luzon) and a limited presence in Cebu (Visayas) through a Consular Agent. Davao --and the Mindanao region-- is a natural first choice for us to launch the first Virtual Consulate in the Philippines.
We also appreciate that Davao has unique cultural, linguistic, ethnic and geographical characteristics. All the more reason for Davao to be the first city in which we launch a Virtual Consulate!
Why don’t you just open a “real” consulate instead of this virtual consulate?
The US Government has no plans to open additional consulates in the Philippines. We believe the Virtual Consulate can increase the engagement of the US Government in Davao and further develop the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and the people and municipality of Davao. The Virtual Consulate will allow many of the net benefits of a physical consulate to be achieved. An electronic communication channel will enable most queries to be answered efficiently. A Virtual Principal Officer (VPO) will serve as a coordinator of US Government engagement in Davao and ensure that all our efforts support the bilateral relationship. Our existing programs will be augmented and US Government personnel will visit Davao with regular frequency.
What is the difference between a Virtual Consulate and a real consulate? What services can be obtained through the Virtual consulate?
Many of the benefits of a physical Consulate can be obtained through the virtual consulate. For instance:
- A contact point to answer general queries will be available through electronic communications. If necessary, an Embassy staff will also be able to contact any interested organizations/persons to engage in a dialogue.
- American citizens will be able to get information and guidance specific to their situation in Davao through the website.
- The Virtual Consulate will impart information on all current and planned engagements by the US Government in Davao. It will also serve as a information dissemination device.
- While visa adjudication will not be possible through the Virtual Consulate, it is envisioned that regular “chat sessions” with consular officers will be set up to allow citizens of Davao to ask questions of general interest regarding visa applications.
- Visitors to Davao will be guided to specific information about the City, and services that are available in the city.
- Regular “featured topics” will highlight some of the elements of the bilateral relationship between Davao and the US.
Is the Virtual Consulate just a website?
NO. The website is just one visible element of the Virtual Consulate through which the public can see current and planned activities in Davao. The website is augmented by many other programs, including frequent travel to Davao, outreach programs, cultural exchange programs, and commercial exchanges between Philippine business interests and US. The electronic communications will allow residents and organizations of Davao, along with American citizens with an interest in Davao to interact with the Virtual Consulate. Regular “chat sessions” will likely allow for more interactive communications. And finally, the Virtual Principal officer will ensure that US Government activities in Davao are coordinated to enhance the mutual benefit of the citizens of Davao and the US Government.
What is the VPO and what is his/her role?
The Virtual Principal Officer is an American diplomat assigned to the US Embassy in Manila. Part of his/her responsibilities would be to coordinate all US Government activities in Davao. This would include both the online /electronic interactions between the virtual consulate and any interested parties, as well as all travel and physical engagement by the US Government in Davao. While varied US government agencies would each be focused on furthering their objectives in the city, the VPO would coordinate the U.S. Mission’s efforts so that this relationship with citizens in Davao is strengthened.
What other Virtual Consulates are planned and when
will they open?
We expect to open additional Virtual Consulates in 2006. The exact location and timeframes for these have not yet been determined.
You have a Travel Advisory warning Americans not to travel to Davao? How does that reconcile with opening a Virtual Consulate?
As our Public Announcement states, we believe in the need to exercise caution in traveling to Davao and parts of Mindanao. We have not issued a travel warning for the Philippines. In spite of the caution that we advise traveling American citizens to exercise in this region, we believe that modern communication technologies can enable us to extend our engagement and develop our relationships in Davao. The Virtual Consulate will be a strong boost to that objective.
When is the next visit by Embassy staff to Davao City?
Please refer to our engagement calendar for updates regarding Embassy visits to Davao City. However you are welcome to contact us at any time through the Virtual Consulate with your concerns or questions.