In a bid to reach out to Filipinos in other areas of Region I (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan) over which it has jurisdiction, the DFA’s Regional Consular Office in San Fernando City, La Union, has announced the dispatch of a mobile passport team to Vigan City from 21-22 February 2004.  The 17-man consular team headed by Mr. William G. Garcia, Officer-in-Charge of RCO La Union, will primarily process passport applications and render other consular services to residents in the area.

Through arrangements made with the office of Vigan Mayor Eva Marie Singson Medina, the team will render mobile passport services at the Vigan Youth Center in Barangay 8 on the said dates.
 
“The mobile passport program clearly underscores the DFA’s determination to reach out and extend its services to the people in the remote areas,” Secretary Albert said.  “Talking of convenience, the people of Vigan and the outlying areas need not make the long journey to the DFA offices in Manila or San Fernando, La Union, just to apply for passports; it will be the DFA which will be coming to them.”

Referring to past successful stagings of mobile passport programs in various parts of the country over the last few months, Secretary Delia Domingo Albert affirmed the Department’s commitment to strengthen its frontline service and, through its eleven RCOs nationwide, make it more accessible to the people.

Following is a schedule for the two-day activity:

                            · 21 February 2004 (Saturday)     Processing   9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
                            · 22 February 2004 (Sunday)        Releasing     9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon