DFA to establish new consular offices in 2018

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — To deliver faster and effectively the passport services to Filipinos, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it plans to establish more consular offices in addition to the total 27 regional consular and satellite offices nationwide.

DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters that the number of Filipinos applying for passports have been piling, signifying the need to build more offices to cater demand.

“We’re going to have new regional consular offices in seven to nine places acoss the country,” he said, adding that at present, there have been four vans carrying about five machines each already delivered.

He said as reforms are gradually implemented within the agency, it is eyeing passport appointment from the usual three-month interval since application to seven weeks.

“Twelve weeks to seven weeks is the reform pero kulang pa rin ‘yan,” he said. “For those asking, do we want to reach the point na walang appointment, sagot diyan yes but the problem kapag walang appointment system, kahitone day or two days, paano ‘pag punta mo? Mahaba ang pila, hindi ka maaasikaso.”

When asked to give details about the plan, DFA Acting Spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar on Wednesday said the DFA have 21 Regional Consular Offices (RCO) in various parts of the country and six Satellite Offices (SO) in NCR.

“Any new Consular Office that may be opened in 2018 onwards will be in addition to this existing number, and will further enhance the DFA’s capabilities to provide quality consular service to the Filipino people,” he said.

Per Executive Order 45 titled “Providing for the Reorganization of Field Offices of the Office of Consular Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs” signed by the President on Oct 20, 2017, Bolivar noted that all RCOs and SOs shall now be called DFA Consular Offices.