DFA Opens Authentication Services in Mindanao

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio and Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Officer-in-Charge Brigido J. Dulay, Jr. (fourth and fifth from right, respectively) lead the ribbon cutting ceremony that mark the opening of the first authentication center in Davao City on 21 June 2019. (DFA-CO Davao photo)

DAVAO 21 June 2019 — Filipinos in Mindanao no longer need to travel to Manila to have their documents authenticated as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) opened its first authentication center in Davao City on 21 June 2019.

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio joined DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Officer-in-Charge Brigido J. Dulay, Jr. and SM Supermalls Regional Operations Manager for Mindanao II Jonathan Nick D. Santos at the inauguration ceremony at SM City Davao which hosts the DFA Consular Office (DFA CO) in Davao.

In her keynote speech, Mayor Duterte-Carpio commended the DFA for the “promising breakthrough” in opening an authentication facility in Davao and for other “initiatives upholding the welfare of Filipinos.”

Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge Dulay said that the roll-out of the authentication services in Davao, together with the implementation of the Apostille Convention in the Philippines, is a testament to the Duterte administration’s commitment to bringing efficient, effective and responsive frontline services to the public.  

The Apostille Convention removes the requirement for authenticated documents to undergo another authentication by the Embassy or Consulate of the country of destination that is also a State Party to the Convention. The Apostille, which replaced the Authentication Certificate as proof of authentication, comes without  the red satin ribbon.

The Consular Office will accept applications for authentication Mondays to Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Scheduling an appointment to have documents authenticated is not necessary. END

Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio and Office of the Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Officer-in-Charge Brigido J. Dulay, Jr. with the officers and staff of the DFA Consular Office in Davao. (DFA-CO Davao photo)