MORE RP EMBASSIES TO OPEN ABROAD

UNEDITED SAMPLE NEWS ARTICLE
By Zatia Denise Danao Gammad
IV-Madame Marie Curie


At least 5 Philippine embassies would soon be opened abroad. According to the Foreign
Affairs Department, more embassies and consulates will open to serve the needs of the growing number of migrant Filipinos.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Claro Cristobal said that a Philippine embassy will be opened in Portugal, Ireland, Finland, Poland and Syria. New consulates will open in Macau, Chongqing and Chengdu in China.

According to Cristobal, the plan to establish more embassies and consulates is among the objectives of the department to strengthen assistance to nationals due to the growing number of Filipinos abroad, tap potential investments for the country and improve political relations and economic cooperation.

“It is basically for development purposes, especially on bilateral relations,” Cristobal said, adding that “the establishment of more embassies and consulates is already included in the approved budget of the DFA for 2008.”

Foreign Affairs undersecretary for administration Franklin Ebdalin affirmed Cristobal’s statement, saying that the new diplomatic missions are meant to strengthen the Philippines’ bilateral ties with these countries and at the same time address the consular needs of the growing number of Filipinos.

Ebdalin further added that the consulate in Damascus needs to be upgraded as the Syrian capital has become a transit point for Filipinos in times of crisis in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon.

Syria served as an exit point for thousands of Filipino workers fleeing the war in ebanon in 2006.