The full consular office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was formally inaugurated on November 29, 2024 at the 5th Floor of Alturas Mall.
Alturas General Manager Marlito Uy and Jesus “Gary” Domingo, DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs signed a memorandum of agreement for its operations during the opening program.
Uy, in his welcome remarks, shared his happiness for the dream come true that is the DFA consular office that took almost 4 years. He also expressed gratitude to First District Cong. Edgar Chatto for championing its establishment.
Chatto had initiated the creation of a full consular office of the DFA in Tagbilaran City to address the inconveniences of traveling to other provinces in order to avail of services.
Chatto disclosed the lengthy and challenging process of putting up a consular office, which included meeting the rigid criteria set by the DFA for consular office establishment as well as getting the approval of President Bongbong Marcos for the budget allocation.
Chatto likewise thanked the Alturas Group, who as a strong partner, offered the free use of a space at the Alturas Mall as the DFA office location.
This public-private partnership model, DFA’s Usec. Domingo said, is a template for opening up more consular offices in other parts of the country.
In a video message, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo described the Bohol consular office model as a concept born out of determination and desire to deliver services to the people. He also conveyed gratitude to both Cong. Chatto and Alturas’ Uy for turning the aspiration into a reality.
The DFA Tagbilaran City is the 41st consular office opened in the country, the 7th in the Visayas.
Aside from passport application and renewal services, the office is set to offer apostille services by March of next year.
An apostille is a form of authentication that seeks to simplify the process of legalizing and authenticating public documents so that they can be recognized internationally in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.
Joining Usec. Domingo, Cong. Chatto and wife Balilihan Mayor Pureza Veloso-Chatto and Alturas’ Uy family during ribbon cutting rites were DFA’s Asec. Adelio Angelito Cruz, Director Conrado Demdem together with Bohol provincial officials Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap who both welcomed the presence of the DFA here.
Passport services were made available with the ceremonial first application done by Tresha Gift Pamisa, a member of Koro Seraphim choir, set to travel to Taiwan next year.
The DFA announced that they will be accepting walk in applicants on December 2-6, 2024 with 150 slots and another 50 slots for the priority lane for PWDs, senior citizens, pregnant, solo parents and children below 7 years old.
Meanwhile, online appointment scheduling could already be processed through https://passport.gov.ph/appointment which will begin on December 9, 2024.
The blessing of the consular office was officiated by Fr. Lito Geangan while Asec. Cruz administered the oath taking rites of the 15 employees of the office.