Filipinos in the Eastern Province have complained of the many difficulties they face in renewing their passports during the scheduled visit of the “Embassy on Wheels” in the region. Last weekend, a number of them engaged in a vigorous exchange of words with Philippine Embassy officials regarding what they called the “slow process and lack of systems in handling the services of passport renewal and authentication of documents.” Embassy officials said, however, the large number of Filipinos renewing their passports and requiring consular documentation every time the “Embassy on Wheels” visits the region is simply overwhelming, considering the limited resources of the embassy. Consul Romulo Victor M. Israel Jr., head of the “Embassy on Wheels,” explained that the embassy is doing its very best to serve and accommodate the large number of Filipinos renewing their passports. During the visit of the “Embassy on Wheels” in July, about 2,000 Filipinos thronged the International Philippine Schools in Al-Khobar (IPSA), venue of the “Embassy on Wheels,” to make use of the various services of the embassy. Last weekend, about the same number visited the venue. As early as four in the morning, Filipinos from various cities in the Eastern Province began forming lines and congregating at the IPSA. “Please bear with us because we are doing our very best to serve you; we are going to schedule more visits of the ‘Embassy on Wheels' in order to serve all. It is on a first come, first serve basis,” Israel told the complaining Filipinos. The “Embassy on Wheels” has scheduled passport renewal and consular authentication services this Sept. 11-12 in Ras Tanura and Sept.18-19 at IPSA in Al-Khobar. __
