DFA unveils new mall-based regional consular office in Iloilo City

(From left to right) Ms. Kristin September Hortillano (Robinsons Place Iloilo Manager), Mr. Noel Servigon (DFA Senior Special Assistant), Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (Iloilo City), Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., Assistant Secretary Wilfredo Santos, Mr. Irving Wu (RLC Operations Director for Luzon), and Ms. Shiela Marie Tu (OIC DFA RCO Iloilo)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), unveiled the new DFA Regional Consular Office (RCO) Iloilo in Robinsons Place-Iloilo on 21 February 2014.

DFA Undersecretary for Administration Rafael E. Seguis led the inauguration of the new DFA RCO Iloilo office.

DFA Officials Assistant Secretary Wilfredo C. Santos (Consular Affairs), Assistant Secretary Teresita Barsana (ASEAN Affairs), Assistant Secretary Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek (Personnel and Administrative Services), and Senior Special Assistant Noel Servigon also attended the inauguration ceremony.

Iloilo local government officials including Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and local heads of government agencies graced the occasion.  Robinsons Land Corporation executives headed by Mr. Irving Wu (Operations Director for Luzon) also witnessed the event.

The transfer of DFA RCO Iloilo to its new home in Robinsons Place-Iloilo aims to accommodate more passport clients, provide a comfortable, convenient location, and offer world class and applicant-friendly consular services to residents of Iloilo and its neighboring provinces.

(From right to left) Ms. Shiela Marie Tu (OIC, DFA RCO Iloilo), Asst. Secretary Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, Mr. Noel Servigon (DFA Senior Special Assistant), Mr. Irving Wu (RLC Operations Director for Luzon), Mr. Tommy Lee O (RLC Senior Consultant for Government Affairs and Special Projects), Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (Iloilo City), Asst. Secretary Teresita Barsana, Asst. Secretary Wifredo Santos, and Ms. Tess Miranda (RLC Special Projects Manager)

“We expect the relocation of the DFA office to Robinsons Place will not only make our office more accessible and convenient but also provide world-class consular services to the residents of Iloilo City, Iloilo Province and the neighboring provinces and islands. This cooperation is in pursuit of President Benigno S. Aquino’s administration policy of Public-Private Partnership,” Undersecretary Seguis said during the inauguration ceremony.

The DFA signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with RLC in October 2011 for the hosting of DFA Consular Offices in various regional hubs in the country. In July 2013, the DFA and RLC inked a second MOA for the latter’s hosting of five (5) consular and extension offices in Butuan City; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Calasiao, Pangasinan; Santiago, Isabela, and Novaliches, Quezon City.

DFA Consular Offices are currently operating at Robinsons Malls in Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City; San Fernando, Pampanga; Lipa, Batangas; General Santos City; and Bacolod City.

DFA RCO Iloilo is located at the 3rd level of Robinsons Place Iloilo, and is open to serve the public from 9 A.M.  to 6 P.M., Mondays to Saturdays. It accepts new passport applications, passport renewal, and replacement of lost passports. The office also provides assistance-to-nationals services. OIC Ms. Shiela Marie Tu heads DFA RCO Iloilo.

(Clockwise from top left) Undersecretary Seguis delivers his remarks during the inauguration ceremony; Tribu Panayanon’s Ati-atihan spirited performance entertains the guests during the inauguration ceremony; DFA Officials engage students of University of San Agustin in a lively lecture and discussion; Undersecretary Rafael Seguis leads the inspection of the DFA RCO Iloilo office and facilities.

During their visit to Iloilo City, Assistant Secretary Thomeczek, Assistant Secretary Barsana, Assistant Secretary Santos, and Senior Special Assistant Servigon also conducted lectures on the Philippine Foreign Service, ASEAN Integration, and life in the Foreign Service to students of Iloilo Doctors College and University of San Agustin.

Photos and article courtesy of DFA press release, 25 February 2014.