DFA descends from pedestal, reaches out to provincial folk

ANGELES CITY- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has shed its image of being too lofty for the reach of the masses, as it started recently the operation of yet another of its provincial satellite office at Marquee Mall in this city, two months after opening another one 18 kilometers south in the City of San Fernando.

Consul Elmer Cato, DFA special assistant for special projects, said the satellite office here is one of the 16 such offices planned in malls in the provinces.

The DFA office on the third floor of Marquee Mall started “trial” operations last Monday by processing passport applications and renewals, but it will be formally opened on Aug. 1, he said.

Cato declined to state figures, but stressed that the accommodation of DFA offices in malls would lead to savings in operational expenses worth about P1.04 billion in the next 10 years.

The DFA office here was the third to open in a provincial mall, following one that opened in San Fernando which catered to 1,000 passport applicants daily, and another that opened in Mandaue City in Cebu.

In the past, provincial folk spent much for transportation and even arrive the day before they join the long line of passport applicants at the DFA office in Manila.

Cato said the establishment of the DFA offices in malls in various regions is part of Pres. Aquino’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The DFA has already signed such PPP contracts that will pave the way for the establishments of more consular offices in SM, Robinson’s, Ayala, and Gaisano malls.

“With the opening of the DFA in Marquee Mall, we will shut down our satellite office at Clark Freeport to move its services to the mall,” Cato also said.

He said the PPP contracts would pave the way for the establishment of more consular offices in Robinson’s malls in Galeria in Quezon City and in the provincial cities of Laoag, Lipa, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Tacloban, and General Santos.

In SM malls, consular offices are also to be established in Manila, Mandaluyong, Baguio, and Batangas.

The consular office to open next month Marquee Mall in Angeles would be the only mall so far under the Ayala group of companies to host the DFA, Cato said.

He estimated that daily, some 10,000 passport applicants from provinces north of Metro Manila troop to DFA offices for new passports or passport renewals.

Cato said the transfer of DFA satellite offices to first-class facilities in shopping malls underscores the commitment of the DFA to provide the public not only with more efficient service, but also with more comfortable and accessible venues.

He said that more DFA satellite offices in the provinces would decongest the daily crowd in the DFA in Manila.

Cato said the DFA has also relaxed its attire requirements for those seeking passports at its satellite offices.

“Of course we don’t expect people to be wearing slippers and shorts, but any other decent attire will do, “ he said.
http://punto.com.ph/News/Article/14958/Volume-6-No-25/Headlines/DFA-descends-from-pedestal-reaches-out-to-provincial-folk

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Yats Leisure Philippines

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

Tel: 0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Road, Ortigas Centger,
Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

Tel: (632) 637-5019 0917-540-3626 ask for Rea or Chay

Log on to this web site for more information about Yats Wine Cellars as the leading wine importer and wine supplier in the Philippines:

ats Wine Cellars Leading Wine Supplier in Philippines

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com