27 April 2015 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Office of Consular Affairs (OCA), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) on April 23 signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the Joint Research Project for the Prototyping and Pilot Production of Eyelet Riveters for the DFA’s Authentication Certificates.  DFA-OCA’s Assistant Secretary Wilfredo C. Santos signed on behalf of the DFA while DOST-MIRDC’s Assistant Secretary Roberto O. Dizon signed on behalf of the DOST at the Carlos P. Garcia Conference Hall in the DFA main building in Pasay City.

The joint research project between DFA-OCA and DOST-MIRDC aims to design, develop, and pilot-produce locally developed and manufactured Eyelet Riveters for the DFA’s Authentication (“Red Ribbon”) service. Formerly, the DFA purchases eyelet riveters from foreign sources. This joint research project aims to develop and tap local expertise to produce these machines. Once done, the DOST-MIRDC intends to make the resulting riveting technology available for local manufacturers while at the same time it gives the DFA the opportunity to purchase its eyelet riveter requirements from less expensive local sources.

The DFA’s Authentication (“Red Ribbon”) service legalizes a public document for use in foreign countries through the verification of the signatures of document signatories. An eyelet riveter binds an Authentication Certificate and its underlying documents together to foster the integrity and security of the DFA-authenticated public document. END