Philippine PPP project to bring passport services to the malls

By eGov Innovation Editors | Jan 22, 2012

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The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs recently signed a public-private partnership deal with  SM Malls to transfer its passport offices to shopping malls nationwide.

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. del Rosario said the opening of extension consular offices will translate to almost P1.04 billion in savings for the government over a period of 10 years.

“In addition to the millions of pesos the government will be saving in the next ten years, our partnership with SM and our other friends in the private sector will allow us to extend consular services in modern, applicant-friendly settings at no cost to the Filipino taxpayer,” the Secretary of Foreign Affairs said.

Del Rosario and SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy signed the agreement for the hosting in SM malls of the first five consular offices in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country.

The PPP arrangements will cover the transfer and hosting of existing consular offices in the provinces of Davao, Baguio, and Batangas and the opening of extension offices at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong and SM City in Manila, which will occupy a combined floor area of more than 3,400 square meters.

The DFA had earlier entered into similar arrangements with Pacific Mall Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation, and Ayala Land Inc. for the hosting of consular offices in 11 other locations nationwide.