DFA Opens 41st Consular Office in Tagbilaran City, Bohol
From left to right: Ma. Paz Uy , Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, DFA Usec. Jesus Domingo, Congressman Edgar M. Chatto, DFA-OCA Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, Alturas Supermarket Corporation General Manager Marlito Uy, DFA-OCA Consular Offices Coordinating Division Director Conrado B. Demdem, Jr. (Photo by DFA-OCA)
TAGBILARAN 04 December 2024 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Bohol, successfully conducted the inauguration of its 41st Consular Office (CO) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on 29 November 2024. The event, held at the 5th floor of Alturas Mall where the CO is located, included a ceremonial MOA signing, ribbon-cutting, and blessing of the premises.
Prominent officials led the ceremony, including Hon. Edgar M. Chatto, Representative of the 1st District of Bohol; Mr. Marlito Uy, Alturas Supermarket Corporation (ASC) General Manager; Hon. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Governor of Bohol; Hon. Jane Cajes-Yap, Mayor of Tagbilaran City; Hon. Jesus “Gary” Domingo, DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs; and Hon. Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs. Secretary for Foreign Affairs Hon. Enrique A. Manalo shared his remarks through a pre-recorded video message.
Congressman Edgar Chatto highlighted how the CO Tagbilaran is such a dream come true for the Boholanos as they were forced to travel to Negros Occidental, Cebu, and Manila to avail themselves of consular services. “It is only a dream, now it is a reality,” he stated.
SFA Enrique A. Manalo expressed gratitude to the support of the Bohol Provincial Government in establishing the CO through a pre-recorded video. He mentioned that the Department has made sure that CO Tagbilaran will be staffed by Bohol’s best and brightest, people selected with highest integrity, competence, and professionalism.
CO Tagbilaran is expected to serve close to a thousand applicants daily. It is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays. END
DFA officials, Provincial Government of Bohol, and Alturas Mall management pose for a group photo along with the newly-hired CO Tagbilaran personnel. (Photo by DFA-OCA)
A key highlight of the program was the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DFA Undersecretary Jesus Domingo and Alturas Mall General Manager Marlito Uy. The MOA formalized the partnership between the DFA and Alturas Mall, which hosts the newly established consular office. (Photo by DFA-OCA)
Symbolizing the official start of operations, Tresha Gift Pamisa, a member of Koro Seraphim—the choir that performed during the ceremony—became the first applicant to apply for a passport at CO Tagbilaran. Her application marked the beginning of a new era of accessible consular services for the province. (Photo by DFA-OCA)