Mayor offers old municipal hall for satellite office

MABALACAT -- Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales has offered the old municipal hall in Barangay Poblacion here to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Regional Consular Office for its satellite office.

Morales said the announcement of DFA-Central Luzon to operate a satellite office at the Berthaphil Industrial Estate inside the Clark Freeport will not materialize soon because it will require approval from the DFA office in Manila.

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Residents in the provinces of Zambales, Tarlac and other parts of Northern Luzon are reportedly complaining that the current location of the DFA Regional Consular Office in the City of San Fernando "is too far."

"The DFA can use our old municipal building in Barangay Poblacion where they can set up their satellite office," Morales said Monday.

He said the DFA may use the old municipal hall for free for a certain period and should pay only a minimal rate afterwards.

Morales had been urging the DFA to resume the operation of its consular office inside the Clark Freeport. The office was transferred to the City of San Fernando last month.

He said the presence of DFA office in Clark "has a multiplier effect in the local economy."

"Maraming maliliit na business ang naapektuhan, pati na ang mga tricycle at jeepney drivers na naghahatid sa mga passport applicants," the mayor said earlier.

He said it would also be convenient to residents of Northern Luzon to secure travel documents in Clark considering its accessibility.