US Embassy: Citizen services section closed Sept 27

The United States Embassy in Manila has announced that its Citizen Services Section will be closed on September 27, Tuesday. On its Facebook account, the Embassy did not give a specific reason for the one-day closure. "The American Citizen Services Section will be closed to the public on Tuesday, September 27, 2011. In case of emergency, please contact the Embassy telephone operator at (02) 301-2000," it said. Regular services will resume on Wednesday, September 28, it said. The American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit serves the American community in the Philippines, according to the Embassy. It said some 132,000 US citizens reside in the Philippines, and several hundred thousand Americans visit the Philippines each year for business and pleasure. "The ACS Unit issues passports and reports of birth and death for Americans in the Philippines, as well as providing notarial services. ACS also assists U.S. citizens in distress, such as those arrested or destitute," it said. Also, it maintains a list of doctors, dentists and attorneys for reference. — LBG, GMA News