The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday opened its largest consular office at Ali Mall in Araneta City, a 443-square-meter expansion aimed at boosting document processing.
“We now have the space to ensure that the clients will have a seamless experience applying for whatever document they need […] It also allows us to have a dedicated section for authentication services, which means it’s more convenient for the clients,” DFA Undersecretary for Administration Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega told at the sidelines of the inauguration of the new site.
The Ali Mall branch — officially known as the DFA Consular Office National Capital Region (NCR) Northeast — was established through a 12-year-old public-private partnership (PPP) with the Araneta Group of Companies, Ms. Dizon-De Vega said.
Araneta Group and the DFA first collaborated in 2014, when they worked together to open the original NCR Northeast office at Araneta Center.
Araneta City’s central location was a major consideration for the DFA in its partnership with the Araneta Group, Ms. Dizon-De Vega explained, describing the area as accessible to public transportation and communities within and outside Quezon City.
From Left to Right: Mr. Morriel A. Abogado Vice President for Operations, Araneta City, Ms. Lorna D. Fabian SVP for Leasing, Araneta City, Ms. Elea V. Perez Head of Consular Office, CO NCR Northeast DFA, Dir. Charles Andrei P. Macaspac Director, Consular Office Coordinating Division, Hon. Benedict “Wency” Lagumbay Councilor, District III, Quezon City, Usec. Maria Theresa B. Dizon - De Vega Undersecretary for Administration DFA, Mr. Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas President, Progressive Development Corporation, Assec. Anne Jalando-on Assistant Secretary Office of Consular Affairs DFA, Mr. Juan Rowell L. Recinto Senior Management Consultant, Araneta City
Ms. Dizon-De Vega emphasized that PPPs with companies like Araneta Group help make the DFA’s services more accessible and citizen-centric
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“The DFA’s partnerships with various private establishments to house our consular offices really helps us to bring our consular services closer to the public,” Ms. Dizon-De Vega said. “It also eliminates longer waiting times, [which would continue] if we still had the old system of having a centralized operation.”