The Filipino Community in Menorca are the first to avail of the new, improved, and rebranded Filipino Community Registration Card or FCRC (initially named as Yellow Card) during the two-day Consular outreach and overseas registration in the said Spanish island on 23 and 24 March 2024. (photo by Barcelona PCG)
MENORCA, 24 March 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona has revamped its approach to reaching out to overseas Filipinos under its jurisdiction with the introduction of a PVC-type Filipino Community Registration Card or FCRC during the consular outreach in Menorca Island, Spain on 23 and 24 March 2024.
The Consulate’s FCRC Program, formerly known as the "Yellow Card," is an initiative aimed at documenting and providing identification for Filipino nationals residing in Spain and the Principality of Andorra.
Previously, the yellow card was issued as a cut-out of yellow bond paper, displaying the overseas Filipino’s photo, name, address, fingerprint, signature, etc., along with the Consulate’s wet stamp and the signature of one of the officials. However, this paper-based identification document raised concerns regarding security, authenticity, and usability among the Filipino community.
“You asked for it; we are responding to it. This simple yet impactful transition to a PVC-type ID for our FilCom Registration Card or FCRC does not only embody our commitment to process improvement. This is us listening to you, our kababayan,” said Philippine Consul General to Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro before a crowd of Filipinos in Menorca.
The FCRC also serves as a population census tool, enabling the Consulate to maintain updated information, particularly contact details and addresses of its Filipino constituents – information crucial for communication and response efforts in cases of emergencies or critical situations.
“Let us not wait for another pandemic or a disaster to make us realise how important connecting and coordination with the Philippine government through your Consulate General in Barcelona is,” reiterated Consul General Lazaro. “We encourage all our kababayan and their family members while living, working, or studying in Spain to get their FCRCs.”
The new and improved FCRC is available to all overseas Filipinos in Catalunya, Aragon, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and the Principality of Andorra, regardless of migrant status and age. In fact, the Consulate received a three-month-old baby as its youngest FCRC applicant in Menorca. Filipinos on student visas and even dual citizens are welcomed to avail of the said card.
The FCRC is considered a valuable tool, providing not only a sense of security but also an alternative mode of identification for the overseas Filipino community. This is particularly pronounced in areas such as the Balearic Islands, where the local government authorities recognize the “yellow card” as a form of identification, making it a prerequisite among Filipinos in the area for obtaining local Spanish documents and identification. The Consulate explained that a significant portion of Filipinos under its jurisdiction falls under irregular migrant status, presenting unique challenges in safeguarding their rights and interests.
Recognizing possible challenges with ID issuances, the FCRC is embedded with security features. “We are proud to announce that each FCRC bears a unique barcode, allowing the Consulate the means to identify authentic IDs from fake ones. The FCRC also carries a QR code, which when scanned, will bring the Filipino directly to the Consulate’s contact details, including hotline numbers. This is critical for our kababayan in cases of emergencies and difficult situations. Through our FCRCs, we are making the information of the Consulate right inside the pockets or wallets of the Filipinos in need,” said Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona Communications Officer Mark Salvador during the briefing with the Filipinos.
A total of 88 FCRCs were issued during the two-day consular outreach in Menorca. The FCRCs are issued on the same day of application after the signature and photo capture of the registering Filipino.
To apply for an FCRC, the Filipino needs to first accomplish the online form found in this LINK. Bringing his/her valid passport, a copy of empadron, student card, or unemployment paper, the individual then proceeds to the Consulate for his/her photo and signature capture. He or She will receive their PVC-type FCRC on the same day.
Those Filipinos who have received their registration in the old format may visit the Consulate to exchange their yellow paper cut-outs for the new FCRC.
The FCRC remains free of charge. **END**
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Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona explain to the overseas Filipinos in Menorca the benefits and features of the Filipino Community Registration Card or FCRC.
As census tool, the FCRC is afforded to all Filipinos regardless of age and migrant status in Spain, particularly those in Catalunya, Aragon, Valencia, Baleares Island and the Principality of Andorra
(photos by Barcelona PCG)