Arroyo orders creation of consular offices in 6 cities

MANILA, Philippines - Six regional consular offices in the country’s main cities were ordered set up by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for a more efficient service to Filipinos and foreigners visiting the Philippines.

Mrs Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 748 last August 28 for the establishment of the offices in the cities of Baguio, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, General Santos, Butuan, and Cotabato.

The President issued the directive in accordance with the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

The regional consular offices will be headed by a ranking officer from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and will be manned by "home-based personnel and locally-hired employees," according to the President.

A staff house will also be rented for the "home-based personnel" preferably in the same building or area where the regional consular office is established.

The President ordered the Department of Budget and Management to release an initial P66 million for the establishment of the offices. The fund will come from the government's 2008 budget. Portions of the expenses will be sourced from the DFA's annual budget the passport revolving fund.

Mrs Arroyo also ordered DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo to formulate additional implementing guidelines to effect the order. - GMANews.TV

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