CLARK FREEPORT – The regional director of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has proposed the creation of a second office in Central Luzon to cater to the growing number of passport applicants.
DFA Regional Director Nestor Belardo said yesterday told his superiors the need to create another DFA office in Region III since “we entertain an average of 700 people daily.”
“There are too many passport applicants. We could handle as much,” said Belardo in the dialect. He added in a jest that “there will be no one left in Central Luzon if all those passport holders leave the country.”
Belardo disclosed that he had suggested the establishment of a DFA office in “either Nueva Ecija or Zambales.” He added that their purpose is “to speed up the processing of passports.”
Rene Romero, chairman of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), said “the suggestion of Belardo is a welcome development.” He said the government should “really bring closer its services to the people.”
Romero said the DFA should put its second office where there are more applicants based on their records and data.
“It’s not really the location but the volume of applicants should determine the place for the office,” Romero said in a phone interview. But he said “they should no longer consider Tarlac because it’s very near Clark and Pampanga.”
“I think it’s a toss up between Zambales and Nueva Ecija. Maybe Bataan could be considered, too” he said.
Romero also added that the creation of a second DFA office will not just bring comfort but monetary savings to the some 10,000 million residents of Central Luzon, the third largest region in the country.
