Spreading its consular services further into the regions, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will open a new Regional Consular Office in Cotabato City, near the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao next month.

Located at the ground floor of the People’s Palace or New City Hall, the RCO in Cotabato City will be fully staffed and equipped and will extend a full range of consular services such as passport processing and issuance, authentication services and visa processing, among others.

The Cotabato consular office will be fully operational by September 1.

Prior to the establishment of the regional office, residents of Cotabato City and nearby provinces travel to Davao or Cagayan de Oro for passport application or renewal and other consular services.

Last month, the DFA inaugurated a similar RCO in Baguio City to cater to residents in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Other RCOs to be opened this year are in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and General Santos City in South Cotabato.

Last year, the DFA opened RCOs in Butuan City in the province of Agusan del Norte and in Bacolod City in the province of Negros Occidental.