(Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY – Residents of Northern Samar will no longer have to travel as far for passport and other consular services with the impending establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) 43rd Consular Office in Catarman.
The establishment of the DFA- Northern Samar was made possible through the efforts of Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Niko Daza, who co-sponsored the DFA budget and worked with DFA Secretary Theresa “Tess” Lazaro to support the establishment of the consular office.
Daza said the facility will bring essential government services closer to residents, particularly those who previously had to travel outside the province to process passports and avail themselves of other DFA services.
“Every Nortehanon deserves easier access to the services they need, closer to home,” Daza said during his sponsorship remarks at the House Committee on Appropriations budget deliberations.
Daza also expressed appreciation for his collaboration with Lazaro in advancing the initiative, which is expected to make consular services more convenient and accessible to thousands of Northern Samar residents.
The Catarman office, if realized, will become the 43rd DFA consular office in the country, expanding the agency’s reach outside major urban centers.
The establishment of the office is expected to reduce travel time and expenses for residents seeking passports and other consular documents and services.
Daza said the initiative reflects the government’s effort to make basic public services more accessible to communities outside major cities.
There is no information as to when the proposed provincial DFA office will operate.
(EUGENE M. ENANO)
