The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) opens its Visayas authentication center in Cebu. The ceremony was led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Atty. Brigido DJ. Dulay, Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Pacific Mall Corporation president Dr. Edward Gaisano and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Neil Frank Ferrer. (DFA-OCA photo by Eric Valenzuela)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday announced the opening of its first authentication center in Cebu that will enable Filipinos living in the Visayas region to have their documents authenticated without the hassle of going to the main DFA office in Manila.

Foreign Affairs chief Teodoro Locsin Jr. said during the inauguration ceremony of the authentication center at Pacific Mall Mandaue in Cebu that the Visayas validation center has completed the DFA’s nationwide rollout of authentication services.

“Before today, Filipinos from the Visayas needed to travel to Manila to have their documents authenticated by the DFA. They are usually OFWs whose work or livelihood abroad rests on a piece of paper that needs authentication. For too long, they have spent considerable time, money and effort to avail of a simple government service,” said Locsin.

“After the opening of our first authentication center in Mindanao at the Davao Consular Office last June, the launch of our first authentication center for the Visayas here in Cebu completes the nationwide roll-out of DFA’s authentication services.”

The opening of Cebu’s authentication center comes in the heels of the country’s accession to the Apostille Convention, which shortens the authentication process for applicants.

“Thanks to President Duterte, who signed the Instrument of Accession to the Apostille Convention, the authentication process for public documents has been cut by half. If the authenticated document is to be used in a foreign country, which is among the 117 members of the Apostille Convention,” said Locsin.

“There is no longer any need for authenticated documents to undergo another authentication in their embassy or consulate here in the Philippines. This means less aggravation and less cost for the millions of Filipinos who rely on the cross-border exchange of public documents for work, study and business,” he added.

The DFA’s Consular Office in Cebu, located in Pacific Mall Mandaue, is the eighth consular office to offer authentication services. The Department aims to open more authentication centers across the Philippines in the coming months.