Consular services continue in 10 PHL embassies soon to be closed

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the 10 Philippine embassies and consulates that will be closed this year will continue to offer consular services until the last day of their operation. Citing budgetary constraints, the DFA on Tuesday announced that it will push through with its plan to close down at least 10 foreign service posts in various countries:

• Palau;
• Caracas, Venezuela;
• Barcelona, Spain;
• Dublin, Ireland;
• Frankfurt, Germany;
• Stockholm, Sweden;
• Havana, Cuba;
• Saipan;
• Bucharest, Romania; and
• Helsinki, Finland.

In a text message to GMA News Online on Tuesday, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez disclosed that six of these posts “will be closed down in July, and the remaining [four] in October,” but he did not identify specific schedules. After the closure of these foreign posts, the honorary consuls or nearby Philippine embassies of consulates will assume jurisdiction and provide the same consular services for Filipinos.

 

The DFA said “there will be minimal effects on its services to areas affected by the planned closure.”  

“Nearby embassies or consulates will take on the jurisdiction and functions of the said missions, as well as more consular missions in the area and the appointment of honorary consuls who will take on the functions of the affected embassy or consulate,” it said in a statement.   

The DFA said it has already informed the host governments of the closing posts as well as its respective diplomatic missions here in Manila. The Filipino communities, under the jurisdiction of the said Embassies and Consulates, were also informed of the closure.  

The decision to shut down of these missions was primarily due to the need to maximize government resources and bolster the operation of its other embassies and consulates where there are more Filipinos, especially in the Middle East. - VVP, GMA News