The Department of Foreign Affairs announced today the opening of a regional consular office in Tacloban City, Leyte to service the passport needs of people in Region 8.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said the creation of the new regional office would spare the people from that region of having to travel to DFA regional consular offices in Legaspi City or even Cebu City in order to apply or renew their passports.

The Secretary also stressed the need for regional consular offices of the department to conduct regular mobile passport services to far-flung areas. “It is the mandate of the DFA to extend consular services to all Filipinos who desire to have a passport,” Secretary Ople stressed.

He added that the need to put up a consular office in Tacloban City was pointed out to him by Representative Ted Failon (1st District, Leyte) during budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.

“It was a valid request which the DFA has acted upon and now our new passport office located at the Leyte provincial capitol in Tacloban City will start its operations on Monday,” Secretary Ople said.

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