The placement of a Consular Office (CO) here in Tagbilaran City is now a huge possibility.
“All we need is the budget and it’s a go for a DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] Consular Office (CO) in Tagbilaran City,” Bohol First District Cong. Edgar Chatto said based on the latest information from the said department of the executive branch.
In a meeting of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs presided over by Cong. Ma. Rachel Arenas, DFA categorically stated that Tagbilaran City in Bohol is among the four priority areas for the establishment of a full DFA CO along with Catarman in Northern Samar, Balanga in Bataan and Bacoor, Cavite.
Moreover, Chatto had made representations with DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo during the budget deliberations at the House of Representatives regarding the matter. Chatto also made follow-up moves through letters and messages to which Manalo responded favorably through an official communication.
DFA Asst. Sec. Sulpicio Confiado also reported to Chatto that the DFA included personnel services and capital outlay budgetary requirements for the opening of a CO in priority areas such as Tagbilaran City during the budget presentations in House of Representatives and at the Senate.
It can be recalled that Chatto filed in February 2021 House Bill 8767 for the creation of a regular DFA CO in the City of Tagbilaran.
This House Bill was adopted through House Resolution 25 and was approved on January 1, 2022, affirming the need for basic consular services such as passporting in the province.
It also mentioned that the proposed DFA-CO in Bohol will likewise serve nearby provinces.
“This move is a salute to more than 50,000 overseas Filipino workers living in Bohol as well as to both domestic and foreign citizens living in and travelling to the province. That is the why our House Bill is for the creation of a DFA Office here with full consular services and not merely a field office,” Chatto stressed.
Confiado also said that the DFA has been in communication with the Tagbilaran local government unit to discuss possible venues, including the proposal of the Alturas Group of Companies for the free use of its space at the Mall to serve as the hub for passport services of the DFA-CO.
The Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment of the CO is currently under process, Confiado.
The DFA also said that the opening of the CO in Tagbilaran City will allow the office to reach as many Filipinos as possible by providing access to quality consular services.