Philippine Embassy strengthens engagement with Filipino community through Ugnayan Town Hall at new Chancery
The Philippine Embassy in Singapore convened the first Ugnayan: Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting of the year at its newly redeveloped Chancery, bringing together approximately 65 Filipino community leaders in Singapore. The session aimed to strengthen engagement, share updates, and enhance coordination between the Embassy and the Filipino community.
The meeting, held on 20 March 2026, marked the first Ugnayan conducted at the redeveloped Chancery and the first to be held on a Friday. In his opening remarks, Medardo G Macaraig, Ambassador of the Philippines to Singapore, welcomed attendees and expressed appreciation for their continued participation in Embassy initiatives. He also provided updates on recent developments, including repatriation efforts and the Philippines’ role in ASEAN-related engagements.
Officials from various Embassy sections and partner agencies delivered briefings on consular, labour, and welfare services. Representatives from the Migrant Workers Office Singapore (MWO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Social Security System Philippines (SSS), and Pag-IBIG Fund shared updates on programmes, including professional licensure examinations, accreditation initiatives, welfare services, and digital appointment systems.
Updates were also presented on cultural and community initiatives, including preparations for Philippine Independence Day activities. Joyleen E Santos, First Secretary and Consul General, highlighted ongoing public diplomacy efforts, including the upcoming launch of the 2026 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Handbook to complement the previously released travel guide for Filipinos visiting Singapore.
The session included participation from Filipino community organisations, which shared updates on initiatives and events. These included announcements by the Philippine Bayanihan Society Singapore regarding developments related to the Bayanihan Centre, as well as community-led activities such as educational programmes, sporting events, and cultural festivals.
The Ugnayan platform continues to serve as a forum for dialogue, information-sharing, and collaboration between the Embassy and Filipino stakeholders in Singapore. The meeting was also livestreamed to expand outreach and accessibility to the wider Filipino community.
Source: Philippine Embassy in Singapore
