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Republic of the Philippines

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House of Representatives IME.

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Quezon city, Metro Manila Dal 5
EIGHTEENTH (18) CONGRESS <p XS
First Regular Session € /NdEX®
House Bill No. cee
Introduced by:

RUDY S. CAOAGDAN
Province of Cotabato Second District Representative

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill is being introduced to establish a regular Department of Foreign Affairs’
Consular Office in the Province of Cotabato particularly to be located at Kidapawan city,
appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes.

Interest in going to foreign countries, either for job, research, education
tourist/luxury travel and other purposes had increasingly gone to great heights. This is
enabled not only by the affordable cost of transportation but the promising
opportunities which travelling abroad have.

‘With this, the influx of people processing their passports have also increased.
People in the Province of Cotabato have to travel to as far as Davao city, General
Santos city and Cagayan de Oro city just to process their passports resulting to clog the
consular offices of these three (3) cities. The result is that people, especially from the
Province of Cotabato, has to spend much money and effort just to get their passports.

This is aggravated when their papers are not complete which would require them
again to travel back home to get the required papers and then travel again to these
consular offices to complete the requirements so that they can get their passports. The
risk involve in the travel adds to the inconvenience suffered by the people of the
Province of Cotabato.

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Enabling the accessibility of the consular office by establishing one in the
Province of Cotabato will be a realization of the social justice provision in the 1987
Philippine Constitution. Article II, Section 10 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states,
“The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development”.
Embraced in the meaning of social justice is the equalization of opportunities and these
opportunities include social opportunity. The services offered by the Department of
Foreign Affairs through its consular offices fall within the ambit of social opportunity.

In passing this bill, not only the people of the Province of Cotabato will be
benifited. It will also cater to the needs of the people of the provinces of Maguindanao
and Sultan Kudarat, municipalities of Lanao del Sur near the boundary of the Province
of Cotabato and Cotabato city.

It will also enhance the accessibility of the Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) in
the Province of Cotabato and the other mentioned provinces and city in speedily getting
their problems reached the Department of Foreign Affairs and can facilitate remedies
with dispatch.

Prescinding, there is a need to establish a regular Department of Foreign Affairs’
Consular Office in the Province of Cotabato particularly in Kidapawan city. The approval
of this measure is respectfully sought.

RU! \OAGDAN
Ry sentative
‘ond District
Province of Cotabato

An Act Establishing A Regular Department Foreign of Affairs’ Consular
Office in the Province of Cotabato, Particularly in Kidapawan City,
Appropriating Funds Therefor And For Other Purposes.

Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Establishment of Regular
Department of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Office in the Province of Cotabato
particularly in Kidapawan City”.


Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to promote
social justice in all phases of development. Social justice includes social
opportunity and that this opportunity be made available to everybody.

Section 3. Establishment of the Consular Office. There shall be established
a regular Department of Foreign Affair’s Consular Office in the Province of
Cotabato, particularly in Kidapawan city.

Section 4. Nature of the Consular Office. The consular office sought to be
established through this bill is a regular office and not a satellite office.

Section 5. Functions. The regular consular office sought to be established
shall perform functions the same as those which are being performed by
the existing regular consular offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Section 6. Appropriations. Funding for this Act shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment and so
forth.

Section 7. Separability Clause. Provisions of this Act not declared as
unconstitutional shall remain effective.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended.

Section 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers
of general circulation.