Our embassy in Manila
From 15 July 2008, the British Embassy building sits on a 1.2-hectare green field development at The Fort in Taguig City, which is fast becoming the preferred location of major businesses in the Philippines, including British bank HSBC. Due to be opened in 2008, the building marks a significant investment for the United Kingdom, indicating the British Government’s commitment to development in the Philippines.
As a modern British building, the structure is energy efficient and environmentally sensitive. The design incorporates a high level of insulation for the tropical climate, low proportion of glazing and significant amount of on-site power generation through solar heating. Rainwater collection is integrated into the building. The landscaping consists of drought-tolerant plant species, including some native flora that are of ecological interest.
All of these features make this new embassy a green building for the 21st century. The new Embassy is expected to garner an excellent rating from BREEAM, or the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. This is a UK-based system that promotes high environmental performance and a more sustainable construction and development of buildings.
Our People
The Ambassador is the United Kingdom's official representative, and provides the channel of communication between the governments of the Philippines and the United Kingdom.
The Embassy's main objective is to protect and promote British interests in the Philippines. We do this through the work of our various sections, including Chancery/Political, Trade and Investment, Visa, Consular, Press and Public Affairs, Development and Management section.
The British Embassy has around 80 staff members, 60 of whom are locally engaged. Manila-based staff provides continuity and essential local knowledge while UK-based staff typically spend 3 years on a posting to the Philippines and come from UK Government departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and UK Border Agency (UKBA).
Chancery/Political
Chancery, sometimes referred to as the political section, is responsible for promoting government-to-government links between the UK and the Philippines and. It manages bilateral government co-operation (in areas such as counter-terrorism), explains the British position on international issues, builds support for UK policies and views in areas such as human rights, and keeps London informed of important developments in the Philippines and the region, which affect British interests.
Promoting British business interests in the Philippines and Philippine investment in the UK are major parts of the British Embassy's work. Trade and Investment section staff aim to provide support to UK firms wishing to come to the Philippines, and they provide assistance to local companies and organisations wishing to invest or do business in the UK. The Trade and Investment Section reports to UK Trade and Investment, the UK Government's national trade promotion and inward investment agency, and works closely with the British Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.
The Visa section processes visas or entry clearance applications for people intending to visit, settle, work or study in the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the UK Overseas Territories. Currently we process approximately 45,000 visas a year. The Section is managed by, and forms part of, the UK Border Agency.
Please note that the Embassy is unable to provide visa information to personal callers. Please contact VFS; www.vfs-uk-ph-.com .
Consular staff offers practical advice, assistance and support to British nationals who live or travel in the Philippines. We have three Honorary Consuls in Cebu, Angeles and Subic (Olongapo), along with a network of wardens spread throughout the Philippines who assist in the work from time to time and act as a channel of communication with the British community. The most common consular work performed in the Philippines is handling British passport applications, registering births and deaths, providing documents for those intending to marry in the Philippines and assisting those who have run out of money, have been arrested, hospitalised or have died. From January 2006, the British Embassy Manila took over from High Commission in Fiji responsibility for diplomatic relations with the Republic of Palau, the Marshall Island and the Federated States of Micronesia. We have one Honorary Consul in the Marshall Islands.
Political and Communications
This section deals with promoting British interests and British policy on a range of themes through local newspapers, television and radio. It also works with the British Council on programmes of "public diplomacy" which aim to promote the UK's policies and interests to a wider, public audience using the media as well as other channels of communication such as education, people to people contacts, visits, joint projects etc.
Management
The good management of the Embassy is essential to the success of our work. The Management Section is responsible for the day to day running of the offices this includes our budget, property, furnishings, technical works, security, transport, accounts, human resources for all staff, learning and development, welfare, travel and purchasing.
