- Particularly located at 2nd floor, Robinsons mall in San Nicolas town
LAOAG CITY — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has formally opened its 28th consular office on May 8, 2018 at the Robinsons Place in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte near the city border here.
Laoag Diocese Bishop Renato Mayugba officiated the blessing rites.
Aside from Bishop Mayugba, DFA Assistant Secretary Frank Cimafranca, Congressman Rodolfo Farinas, and San Nicolas Mayor Dr. Alfredo Valdez Jr. also led the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the formal opening of the new consular office located at the mall’s second floor.
It was learned that Congressman Farinas was one of the key officials who facilitated the request for the putting up of the DFA consular office in Ilocos Norte.
The DFA office will operate 8 a.m.-6 p.m.from Monday to Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. during Saturdays.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano, in a press statement said DFA is committed to making its passport and other consular services more accessible to the people.
Cayetano said the new location in Ilocos Norte gives more convenience and comfort to more clients residing in the area and the nearby provinces.
Lately, the DFA consular office Tacloban was reopened at Robinsons Mall there on April 21.
It was explained that the establishment of all consular offices in Robinsons malls in the country is the result of a public-private partnership (PPP) between DFA and Robinsons Land Corporation. Hence, Robinsons is hosting DFA consular offices free of charge.
Meanwhile, DFA Assistant Secretary Frank Cimafranca said that with the high demand by passport seekers, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 45 allowing the DFA to open additional consular offices in various places in the country.
Cimafranca said that as per budget allocated by Congress this year, the DFA will open six more consular offices in different regions in the coming months.
The ASEC added that DFA has been implementing measures to cope with the strong demand for passport services, especially after the declared validity period of passports is now 10 years replacing the usual 5 years (tri-media & DFA reports)
