Passport processing and assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers are now accessible to Negrenses with the inauguration of the Regional Consular Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs at Robinsons Place in Dumaguete City.
Undersecretary for Civilian Security & Consular Concerns Rafael Seguis said the new DFA office in the City is its ninth consular office hosted by Robinsons Land around the country.
Seguis said the DFA office here will be able to deliver efficient, effective, and prompt services to address the needs of OFWs, businessmen, travelers, tourists, and students.
The RCO-Dumaguete has two data-capturing machines that can handle 300 passport transaction-applications each day.
At present, OIC Tita Rebollos of RCO-Dumaguete said an average of 50 passport applications can be processed each day.
The RCO is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
Rebollos said they can process passports in 20 working days for a fee of P950. Express processing, or in about 10 working days, requires a fee of P1,200.
With the opening of the RCO- Dumaguete, residents in the Province will no longer have to cross the channel and go all the way to Cebu City, or cross the mountains and go all the way to Bacolod City to apply for passports, said Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
“Considering the distance of those places, the time, effort and money saved would be substantial,” Du said.
DFA ASec Frank Cimafranca, Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, and Robinsons Land Corp. operations director for Visayas-Mindanao, Joseph Sian, also graced the inauguration rites at the 2nd floor of Robinsons Dumaguete. (RMN/JCT/PIA7-NegOr)
