DFA opens Baguio passport office

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- It took 21 long years for the Department of Foreign Affairs to deliver Baguio ’s request to decentralize its passport and consular services to the Cordillera. However, it will take a few months from tomorrow for the department to make up for the long wait.

Persistence of local officials did it, said department Assistant Secretary Domingo Lucenario Jr., as he announced last Monday the regional office here will open and in full operation tomorrow.

This means considerable time and money savings for Baguio residents and Cordillerans who used to line up in Pasay City or San Fernando, La Union for their passports as their passport to uplifting the lives of their families, especially overseas Filipino workers, noted city mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.

He and Rep. Mauricio Domogan said visitors can now enjoy their vacation up here while having their travel documents processed at the regional office at Moneylife Bldg. along Legarda Rd. , beside the Prince Plaza Hotel.

Consular officials and staff smiled their approval to Domogan’s would-be threat to block DFAs budget request for next year if they procrastinated in opening the Baguio office.

Lucenario, who came up with fellow Assistant Secretary Renato Villapando, pointed out other regions had filed similar requests but Baguio ’s officials were “the most persistent.” He added the regional office, the 16th to be established, serves as DFAs contribution to the observance of Baguio ’s founding centennial this year.

Domogan recalled that the office inauguration and blessing came exactly 21 years and 21 days from the time he and then fellow city councilors Eddie Aguilar and Virgtilio Bautista filed the initial resolution-request. That initial push, Domogan said, was followed by a barrage of others, including initiatives by former mayor Braulio Yaranon.

“It’s a dream come true,” the mayor and congressman told other city officials and sector representatives of the community, after tourism regional director Purificacion Molintas and Rebecca Domogan cut the ribbon and Fr. Vicente Decoran did the blessing. They then offered a toast.

City officials also acknowledged the series of mobile passport services conducted here prior to the office establishment by the staff of Region 1 consular officer Eleanor Belgica, in tandem with the staff of city administrator Peter Fianza.

Regional consular officer Grace Clavecilla was yanked out of her office in Bacolod to oversee operations of the fledgling regional office here.

The officials acknowledged the operations in Baguio will also unclog the regional office in San Fernando, La Union of thousands of passport applications.

“We hope to live up to the motto of your (city’s) centennial,” Lucenario said.

The Baguio centennial committee headed by Dr. Virgilio Bautista has adopted the theme “Fostering A Culture of Caring” to mark Baguio ’s hundred years.