Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HousEB|LLNo.6554
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ADRIAN MICIIAEL A. AMATONG
EznLANATORv NOTE
This measure seeks to establish a Consular Office of the Department of
F`oreign Affairs  (DFA)  in  the  Municipality of Liloy,  Province  of Zamboanga del
Norte.
The Zamboanga Peninsula or Region IX is composed of three provinces-
Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay, and has
a  population  of  3,875,576   based  on  the   2020   census.   Despite  its  large
geographical  scope  and  population,  there  is  only  one  Consular  Office  of the
DFA in the whole of Zamboanga Peninsula,  which is  located in  the  southern
part of the region at Zamboanga City.
The Consular Offices of the DFA are  at the forefront of the issuance  of
passports  and  other  travel  documents,   as  well  as  the  authentication  of
documents for use overseas. However, during the previous years, the DFA has
experienced  an  unprecedented   surge  in  passport  applications.   Thus,   the
establishment  of  another  Consular  Office  in  Region  IX,  particularly  in  the
Province of Zamboanga del Norte, is needed, in order to address the problems
of the delay in the online processing of passport applications.
Moreover,  establishing  the  Consular  Offlce  of Zamboanga  del  Norte  in
the  Municipality  of  Liloy  is  sought,   considering  that  Liloy  is  strategically
located  at  the  center of the  Province  of Zamboanga  del  Norte,  as  it is  154.2
kilometers  from  the  Municipality  of  Sibuco,  the  southernmost  part  of  the
province,  and  149.0 kilometers from the Dapitan City, the northernmost part
of the province.                                                                .,
This bill will in turn uphold the mandate .of the DFA Office of Consular
Services  of  providing  "efficient  and  effective  delivery  of  passport,  visa,  and
authentication services", as well as "extending assistance to Filipino nationals
both here and abroad."
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
ADifeLA. AMATONG


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HousE BILL -No.  G554
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ADRIAN MICIIAEL A. AMATONG
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CONSULAR OFFICE
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF LILOY, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTH,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it  enacted  by  the  Serrale  arLd the  House  Of Represerita.tiues  Of the  Philippines in
Corvgress assembled:
SECTION  1.  This  Act  shall  be  known  as  the  "Zczmboczngci de! IVorfe  Coriszt!ar
Of f ice Act."
SEC.  2.  There  is  hereby  established  a  Department  of Foreign  Affairs  (DFA)
Consular Office in the Municipality of Liloy, Province of Zamboanga del Norte,
to be known as the "Zamboanga del Norte Consular Office."
SEC.  3.  The  Zamboanga  del  Norte  Consular  Office  shall  perform  functions,
and provide such services available,  similar to the existing consular offices of
the DFA.
SEC.   4.  The  amount  necessary  for  the  construction,   establishment,  and
operationalization   of  the   Zamboanga   del   Norte   Consular   Offlce   shall   be
charged against the current year appropriations of the DFA. Thereafter,  such
sums  as  may  be  necessary  for  its  regular  and  continued  operation  shall  be
included  in  the  annual  General Appropriations Act under  the  budget  of the
DFA.
SEC.  5.  If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the
other provisions, not affected thereby, shall remain valid and subsisting.
SEC.  6. Alllaws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations and/or
administrative regulations, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby amended, modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.
See.  7.  This Act shall take effect fifteen  (15)  days after its publication in the
OJ7jJ3c{cz[ Gclzette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Appro,)ed,,