In line with the Philippine Government’s policy to promote the welfare and protect the rights of overseas Filipinos, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles provides assistance to distressed Filipinos (e.g. detained/arrested, vistims/accused of a crime, missing/dead) under its jurisdiction within the parameters allowed by the United States Government.
The Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Section of the Philippine Consulate General attends to cases involving Filipinos in distress. The forms of assistance provided by the ATN Section include, but are not limited to:
- Repatriation to the Philippines
- Shipment of human remains to the Philippines
- Welfare assistance
- Medical assistance, including hospital visits
- Prison visits and monitoring of cases in court
- Locating whereabouts of missing Filipino nationals
- Assistance of human trafficking cases
- Facilitating the issuance of travel documents (for those facing deportation)
- Mediation/ conciliation
- Coordinating with government and non-government organizations in promoting the well being of Filipino nationals
In view of Republic Act No. 11641, or the Department of Migrant Workers Act, ATN functions for Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been turned over by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the Department of Migrant Workers effective 01 July 2023. Accordingly, the function of providing assistance to distressed OFWs are now being handled by the Migrant Workers Office – Los Angeles (MWO-LA), while the Consulate General’s ATN Section will continue providing ATN services to other Filipino nationals that are not OFWs or temporary workers, such as students, tourists, dual citizens and permanent residents.
The ATN Section is also in charge of taking note of consular notifications sent by U.S. authorities involving detained or arrested Filipino nationals. The Consulate calls the police or detention facility to check on the Filipino national and determine the case involved.
OFWs in distress may call MWO-LA’s hotline at (213) 887 8573 or send an email to mwo_losangeles@dmw.gov.ph.
The ATN Section of the Philippine Consulate General is available from Mondays to Fridays, 9:00am to 5:00pm, at 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, Los Angeles, California 90010, or through telephone number (213) 637 3024. For urgent concerns, Filipinos in distress may call the ATN hotline at (323) 528 1528 or send an email to lapcg.atn@gmail.com with the accomplished ATN Request Form and identification documents showing current Philippine citizenship.
For consular matters, clients may call the Consulate General’s hotline number (213) 268 9990.
Click to download the ATN Request Form
