DFA: New PHL honorary consulate to authenticate documents from Palau

Documents originating from Palau or issued there will have to be cleared through the newly-established Philippine Honorary Consulate in Koror, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.

The DFA's Office of Consular Affairs said the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Koror, Palau began its operations on July 15.

"In this regard, all documents originating from or issued in Palau must be authenticated first by the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Koror before it can be authenticated by OCA-Authentication Division," the DFA said.

In September 2012, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana, Guam announced the DFA is exercising consular jurisdiction over Palau and Micronesia.

This was after the closure of the Philippine Embassy in Koror, Palau, it said.

"(P)hilippine consular jurisdiction over Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia is now being exercised by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila through its Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs," it said.

At the time, it said authentication of documents issued in/originating from Palau and Micronesia should be referred to the DFA Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) via Anna Magsumbol at +(632) 834-4466 or aspac.pacific@dfa.gov.ph.

In an advisory last year, the DFA said passport applicants from Palau "may apply for their passports either at the Office of Consular Affairs located at the ASEANA Building, Macapagal Avenue, Parañaque City, at any Regional Consular Office in the Philippines or at any Philippine Embassy or Consulate General nearest and most accessible to them." — VVP, GMA News