Decision to shut down PH consulate on Saipan upheld

The Department of Foreign Affairs has upheld its decision to shut down the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan, saying the closure is primarily aimed at directing the department’s limited resources to countries where there is a great number of Filipino workers, such as the Middle East.

Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis explained that the move will further augment the capacity of foreign service posts “to meet the increased demand for assistance-to-nationals and other consular services in that region.”

Seguis’ May 2 letter to United Filipino Organization president Bong Malasarte is a response long awaited by Filipinos working and residing in the CNMI, about 5,300 of whom signed the UFO petition seeking to retain the services of the consulate.

DFA announced in February its decision to include the Saipan consulate among the diplomatic posts that will be shut down within the year due to budgetary constraints. Its last day is on Oct. 31.

“The department assures the Filipino community [on] Saipan and Filipinos throughout the Northern Mariana Islands that the delivery of services will not be hampered since honorary consulates will be established in these areas by this year,” Seguis wrote in his one-page letter, a scanned copy of which was circulated via email among leaders of member organizations of UFO.

Saipan Consul General Medardo Macaraig earlier said that he already has nominees for the position of honorary consuls on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The nominations, however, have to be confirmed by DFA and the U.S. State Department, he said.

Seguis noted in his letter that the Guam consulate in Agana will work closely with Filipinos in the Commonwealth “and will also provide the necessary services you need.”

Macaraig earlier said that his Guam counterpart, Bayani Mangibin, has expressed his commitment to the Filipino community in the CNMI as he takes over the responsibilities of the Saipan consulate.

Seguis said that DFA recognizes the Filipino community on Saipan as its “valuable partner” in promoting Philippine interests overseas.

“It looks forward to working with you on matters of mutual concern and seeks your support for the Philippine government’s ongoing efforts to respond to the concerns of our kababayans in greater need of our limited services and resources,” he concluded.

When asked for comment, UFO president Malasarte expressed disappointment with the finality of the department’s decision. While he understands that the decision was prompted by DFA’s lack of resources, Malasarte argued that the Saipan consulate should remain open since the number of Filipino workers in the CNMI remains significant at 8,000 to 11,000, based on estimates.

“I still believe that it would be more practical to keep the Saipan consulate rather than the Guam consulate because most Filipinos in Guam are already permanent residents or U.S. citizens. Here in the Northern Marianas, majority are still categorized as foreign workers,” Malasarte told Saipan Tribune.

Still, he said, their group will support the Guam consulate as it takes over the consular jurisdiction of the CNMI and whoever will be appointed as honorary consulates on the three islands.

“UFO stands ready to provide its full cooperation and assistance,” he added.

Officer-in-charge Jose Sto. Domingo of the Saipan consulate, in a separate interview, alluded that even if they do not agree with the decision to shut down the office, DFA has already made clear its stance on the closure.

“Like what Consul General Macaraig always said, my own opinion will not matter anymore because the department has already rendered a final decision,” he said.

Sto. Domingo assured the Filipino community that the Guam consulate, through Mangibin, has already welcomed the transfer of responsibilities and vowed to provide regular consular outreach services as well as dispatch an emergency team to the CNMI “if the need arises.”