VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – Residents of Ilocos Sur and Abra can now avail of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) services closer to home, thanks to the opening of a new consular office in Candon City.
The office, located at the Candon City Arena in Barangay Bagani Campo, Bypass Road, aims to reduce travel expenses for residents who previously had to travel to San Fernando City, La Union, or Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, to access DFA services.
“We brought our services closer to the residents to help reduce their expenses when availing of our various services,” said Lerie Queyquep-Huelgas, acting head of Consular Affairs.
The Candon consular office offers a variety of services, including:
- Passport application (appointments required and can be done online at https://www.passport.gov.ph)
- Issuance of certifications (unclaimed certificate, certificate of no record, passport certifications, certified true copy of passport, and certificate of passport issuance)
The office welcomes not only residents of Ilocos Sur and Abra but also overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), their relatives, and tourists.
“They can always visit our office or connect with us through the official page of the DFA at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines,” said Huelgas.
Huelgas assures residents that even if they are unsure if the DFA is the right agency for their concerns, they are still welcome to visit the consular office for assistance.
“Our office would be happy to accommodate them nonetheless and connect them with the proper agencies,” she added.
The DFA Candon accommodates 300 persons a day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on holidays.
Francis Sinaban, signing officer and acting administrative officer of DFA Candon City, clarified that they accept walk-ins on special cases such as for recently arrived OFWs, for exceptional emergency cases, or if the individual’s family member abroad passed away.
Sinaban said, “There are also cases where we allow walk-ins for educational purposes or national representation.
Vhan Walxsher Tabuyo, a resident of Narvacan town, expressed his appreciation for the new consular office.
“I scheduled an appointment online when I found out that they opened an office a few towns away from mine, as I have been putting my passport application off for months because of the transportation fees I would have to pay for,” Tabuyo said.
For those who want to set an appointment, the documents they must prepare are their confirmed online appointment, the accomplished application form, and valid identification (ID) such as the national ID, voter’s ID, Social Security System ID, and Government Service Insurance System ID, among others.
They also need to bring the original and photocopy of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-issued certificate of live birth on security paper.
Married females who are using their spouse’s last name must also present the original and photocopy of their PSA-issued certificate of marriage on security paper or report of marriage. (AMB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)
