Cong. Edgar Chatto expressed strong support for a proposal of the Alturas Group of Companies for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to establish a consular office here in the province.
In a letter addressed to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on July 15, 2022, Chatto emphasized that in January of this year the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 18th Congress adopted House Resolution No. 00255 urging the DFA to establish a consular office in Bohol.
Chatto endorsed the proposal of Alturas Group of Companies for the free office space that can be utilized by the DFA to provide services to Boholanos.
Chatto reiterated his request for the inclusion of allocation for a consular office in the budget proposal of the DFA for the 2023 General Appropriations Act.
Early this year, Chatto spoke with DFA Asec. Senen Mangalile who explained that the DFA can move to secure the needed budget for the full DFA office in the province with the approval of the House Resolution.
In February 2021, Chatto had filed House Bill 8767 to establish a permanent DFA office in Bohol.
The bill mentioned that the DFA’s presence in Bohol is warranted given the passporting needs of overseas Filipino workers and tourists alike. The solon wishes the DFA would establish a full-service office here providing the full range of services are not limited to processing of passports alone.
