Policy basis and declared purpose
- Executive Order No. 748 declares that government policy is to effect efficient delivery of basic public services by bringing it closer to the people.
- The order directs the immediate opening of six (6) new DFA Regional Consular Offices to undertake services to the public (WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE).
- The order states that Regional Consular Offices are needed to cover the widest possible areas through consular services (WHEREAS).
Coverage and geographic placement
- Executive Order No. 748 establishes six (6) new Regional Consular Offices located in these jurisdictions: Bacolod City; Butuan City; Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Baguio City; General Santos City; and Cotabato City.
- The order links each office to the following regions: Negros Oriental, Region VI; Agusan del Norte, Region XIII-CARAGA; Palawan, Region VI-B-MIMAROPA; Benguet, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Region XII-SOCCSKARGEN; and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
- The Regional Consular Offices operate within their respective areas of jurisdiction (NOW, THEREFORE).
Legal authorities and related frameworks
- Executive Order No. 748 anchors the creation of Regional Consular Offices on the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, the Migrants Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (RA 8042), and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
- Executive Order No. 748 recognizes the mandate of Regional Consular Offices to process and issue passports and to extend various consular services to Filipinos and non-residents alike (WHEREAS).
Organizational structure and staffing
- Each DFA Regional Consular Office must be manned by Home Office-based personnel and locally hired employees from the Region (Section 1).
- Each Regional Consular Office must be headed by a ranking Officer of the Department (Section 1).
Facilities authorization and staff house
- Each Regional Consular Office is authorized to rent a staff house for its Home Office based personnel (Section 2).
- The staff house is preferably rented in the same building or premises where the Office is situated (Section 2).
Funding source and initial CY 2008 release
- Funding for the Regional Consular Offices must come from the annual budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Revolving Fund (Section 3).
- For Calendar Year 2008, an initial fund amounting to Sixty-Six Million Pesos (P66,000,000.00) must be released from any available appropriation for CY 2008, as determined by the Department of Budget and Management (Section 3).
Implementing guidelines and coordination
- The Secretary of Foreign Affairs must formulate additional implementing guidelines necessary to effect the order (Section 4).
- All provisions and guidelines with financial implications must be properly coordinated with the Secretary of Budget and Management (Section 4).