QuestionsQuestions (PROCLAMATION NO. 410)
EO No. 748 cites the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (RA 8042), and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations as the legal bases for consular and passport-related services.
To effect efficient delivery of basic public services by bringing consular services closer to people, specifically to process and issue passports and extend various consular services to Filipinos and non-residents.
Bacolod City (Negros Oriental, Region VI); Butuan City (Agusan del Norte, Region XIII-Caraga); Puerto Princesa (Palawan, Region VI-B-MIMAROPA); Baguio City (Benguet, CAR); General Santos City (Region XII-SOCCSKARGEN); and Cotabato City (ARMM).
The President acts “by virtue of the powers vested… by law,” i.e., as authorized by existing enabling statutes and constitutional authority to issue executive orders to implement laws or carry out executive functions.
They are mandated to process and issue passports as part of consular services in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
They shall be manned by home-office based personnel and locally hired employees from the region, and headed by a ranking officer of the Department.
Each Regional Consular Office is authorized to rent a staff house for its home office-based personnel, preferably in the same building or premises where the office is situated.
Funding comes from the annual budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Revolving Fund.
For CY 2008, an initial amount of P66,000,000.00 is authorized to be released from any available appropriation for CY 2008, as may be determined by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
All provisions and guidelines with financial implications must be properly coordinated with the Secretary of Budget and Management.
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs is directed to formulate additional implementing guidelines necessary to effect the Order.
It takes effect immediately after publication in a national newspaper of general circulation.
No. It states consular services are extended to Filipinos and non-residents alike.
It notes that linkage with regional governmental and non-governmental agencies makes the offices vital partners in the government’s economic diplomacy and commercial pursuit thrust in the region.
It indicates that the offices’ authority and services are to be undertaken within their respective areas of jurisdiction, consistent with DFA organization and administrative control.
It is mentioned because the convention governs consular relations and activities, aligning the Philippine consular services and functions with international standards for consular work.