Pinoys in Northern Marianas oppose closure of DFA consular offices in Saipan

SUSUPE, Saipan – Filipino groups in the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) will launch as early as Sunday a signature campaign to oppose the Department of Foreign Affairs’ decision to shut down the Philippine Consulate General in Saipan in July this year.   Citing budget constraints, Consul General Medardo Macaraig confirmed Thursday  the transfer of the Philippine Consular General in Saipan’s responsibilities to the Philippine Consulate General in Guam in July.   Macaraig said he has already informed CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial of this development. The exact date of the transfer of responsibilities will be announced later.   “After the consolidation of Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the Pacific, the Philippine Consulate General in Guam shall assume consular jurisdiction over the Northern Mariana Islands, in addition to its current consular jurisdiction,” the consul general said.   “The Philippine Consulate General in Saipan has commenced preparations for the transfer of its responsibilities to the Philippine Consulate General in Guam,” Macaraig also said.   Signature campaign   The United Filipino Organization (UFO), the umbrella organization of some 30 Filipino groups in the CNMI, said it will collect signatures to oppose the planned closure.   There are 12,000 to 15,000 overseas Filipino workers and dependents in the CNMI, which has three major islands – Saipan, Tinian and Rota.  Saipan is the capital.   Bong Malasarte, president of UFO, said it will be a major disservice and a big blow to OFWs in the CNMI if the consulate general will be closed and absorbed by the DFA offices.   He said most Filipinos in CNMI will be unable to go to Guam, where entry requires a U.S. visa.  Most Filipinos and foreign workers in the CNMI do not have US visas.   “Filipinos in Tinian and Rota have difficulty going to Saipan to avail of consular services, how much more going to Guam?” Malasarte told GMA News Thursday night.   Downsize   “The CNMI may be a small island community but Filipinos here do not have the immigration or financial means to go to Guam just to avail of consular services such as renewing their passports.  We hope that DFA will listen to us.  We might address the petition to President Aquino,” said Malasarte, who hails from Montalban, Rizal.   He suggest that Philippine Consulate General in CNMI should move to a much smaller office and have fewer staff.   Rene Reyes, founding president of Marianas Advocates for Humanitarian Affairs Ltd. or Mahal, agreed with Malasarte that  the Philippine Consulate General in Saipan has to be downsized.   “This is a chance for us to request the Philippine government not to close the consulate general here, but we ask that DFA retain only those who are capable and hard working.  We don’t need that many consulate employees, we need only a few able and hard working employees to help us,” Reyes told GMA News. — ELR, GMA News