Macaraig nearly done with honorary consul nominations

Consul General Medardo Macaraig said yesterday he is “making progress” in identifying nominees for the position of honorary consul in the CNMI.

Macaraig disclosed that he has already talked to each of his candidates for Saipan and Rota, both of whom have accepted the nominations.

In the case of Tinian, Macaraig said active Filipino leaders have already recommended the best candidate for the position and he intends to talk to that candidate soon.

Macaraig earlier said that having an honorary consul each for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota would be ideal instead of just having one based on Saipan.

However, he declined to disclose the names of the nominees until they have been submitted to and approved by the DFA office in Manila.

“I have until July or a few months to endorse the recommended honorary consuls to DFA but I will not wait that long,” Macaraig told Saipan Tribune.

The need for honorary consuls comes after DFA announced in February its decision to close down the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan after over two decades of serving the Filipino community.

The Saipan consulate is among the Philippine diplomatic posts that will be shut down within the year due to budgetary constraints. The others are in Koror, Palau; Caracas, Venezuela; Barcelona, Spain; Dublin, Ireland; Frankfurt, Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Havana, Cuba; Bucharest, Hungary; and Helsinki, Finland.

Macaraig said the honorary consuls will be reporting to the Philippine Consulate General in Agana, Guam, which will be taking over the responsibilities of the Saipan consulate.

The last day for the Saipan Consulate General is on Oct. 31.

The consul general noted that each of his honorary consul nominees are of good reputation and have made their mark among Filipinos in the CNMI through their active community involvement.

Once the honorary consul candidates have been approved, Macaraig said the Consulate can then turn over to them the responsibility to carry on the handling of key activities and programs such as the quarterly health screenings and livelihood training courses.

Meanwhile, Macaraig said they have yet to receive an order from DFA regarding the next assignment for Saipan Consulate staffers, including himself.

“We’re still waiting for the order,” he said, adding that finance officer Rowena Tolosa and administrative officer Jose Sto. Domingo will remain after Oct. 31 to prepare reports and wrap up any consulate-related matters.

Macaraig encouraged Filipinos in the CNMI to conduct their business with the consulate this early and not wait for the last minute to avoid inconvenience.

The Consulate General is scheduled to hold its final mobile consular services on Tinian at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel next Saturday, April 21, from 8am to 5pm, and at JC Café on April 22, Sunday, from 9am to 5pm.

The schedule for the final mobile consular services on Rota is the following weekend, April 28 and 29, from 9am to 5pm, at the Northern Marianas College Rota Campus.

For more information, call 234-1850, fax 234-1849, or email saipanpcg@pticom.com.