Macaraig plans meeting with new Guam consul

Saipan Consul General Medardo Macaraig plans to meet with the new Consul General in Guam, Bayani Mangibin, who arrived in Guam Thursday morning.

Macaraig said in an interview yesterday that he will be meeting with his counterpart “as soon as he settles down.”

“I intend to seek a meeting with the Guam Consul General here on Saipan, if possible,” Macaraig told Saipan Tribune. “If not, then I will meet with him in Guam.”

Macaraig said he will inform Mangibin of issues affecting Filipinos in the CNMI, including the transition period owing to the federalization law as well as the impending closure of the Saipan Consulate General and the eventual transfer of its responsibilities to the Guam Consulate.

The Philippine Consulate General on Saipan announced on Feb. 9 that the Department of Foreign Affairs is consolidating its foreign service posts in the Pacific due to budgetary constraints.

While there is no exact date yet of its closure, Macaraig said the Saipan Consulate General will still be around for the Philippine Independence Day celebration in June and the Ambassadors, Consuls General, Tourism Directors Tour of the Philippines in July.

The United Filipino Organization has launched a signature campaign to petition the continued operation of the Saipan Consulate. The petition, which is being circulated on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, gathered at least 1,322 signatures during UFO’s Pusong Pinoy event last Sunday.

UFO president Bong Malasarte disclosed yesterday that the petition is also being passed around by series number at the different hotels on island so that Filipinos working for these establishments can encourage others to sign it.

Although Macaraig has yet to see the actual petition, the Consul General expressed his appreciation to all Filipinos who have signed it, describing their support as “heartwarming.”

“The petition gives a sense of fulfillment on our part. We feel that we’re doing a good job because there are people out there who want our services retained. There won’t be a petition if they think that we’re not doing our job well,” he explained.

Macaraig noted, however, that only DFA can say if the ongoing petition will affect its decision to shut down the consulate.

“I have to follow orders and my personal opinion does not matter,” he added.

The Saipan Consulate General first opened its doors to the Filipino community in 1989 by then Consul Julius D. Torres. It presently has about 12 personnel but Consul Belinda Ante will end her tour of duty by next week, and two other staffers are expected to follow suit.

With the closure of the Saipan Consulate General, Macaraig said there is a possibility that a new foreign post will be opened in less fortunate countries in Asia or Africa.