MANILA, Sept. 10 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has issued Executive Order no. 748, which creates new six regional consular offices in six major cities in the country to further improve the services of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to the Filipinos and foreigners visiting the Philippines

EO 748 issued on August 28 states that the establishment of the new
consular offices was in line with government's policy "to effect efficient
delivery of basic public services by bringing it closer to the public."

The regional consular offices will be headed by a ranking officer from the
DFA, and will be manned by home-based personnel and locally-hired
employees.

A staff house will also be rented for the home-based personnel preferably
in the same building or area where the regional consular office will be
established.

The President issued the directive in accordance with the Philippine
Passport Act of 1996, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of
1995, and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

The six consular offices will be established in the cities of Baguio,
Butuan, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, General Santos, and Cotabato.

In line with this directive, President Arroyo ordered the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) to release an initial P66 million for the
establishment of the offices.

The fund will come from the government's 2008 budget. Portions of the
expenses will be sourced from the DFA's annual budget thru the passport
revolving fund.

She also ordered DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo to formulate additional
implementing guidelines to effect the order.(PNA)
LDV/LGI