Philippine Consulate General in Saipan

Types

About Philippine Consulate General in Saipan

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States. Under its 1976 Covenant to establish a Commonwealth in political union with the United States, the CNMI has until recently had sole authority over its own labor and immigration policy. The CNMI lost the privilege of setting its own minimum wage and labor policies with the enactment of the federal minimum wage increase law that took effect on 25 July 2007. CNMI immigration policy was federalized under the Consolidated Natural Resources Act (CNRA or P.L. 110-229, otherwise known as the “federalization law), which took effect in the CNMI on 28 November 2009.

The need for a Philippine Consulate in Saipan even before the onset of federalization arose during the heyday of the garments and tourism industries in the CNMI in the mid- to late 1980s, during which an ever-increasing number of Filipino workers entered the CNMI to assist its construction development and tourism industries.

At one time, there were as much as 27,000 Overseas Filipino Workers in the CNMI (although there are unconfirmed estimates as high as 35,000). Following negotiations between the government of the CNMI and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Consulate in Saipan was established on 3 March 1989. The Consulate was upgraded to a Consulate General in June 2001.

The following have served as Consuls General: Julia C. Heidemann (1 June 2001 to 30 May 2003); Wilfredo DL Maximo (24 June 2003 to 24 June 2009; Medardo G. Macaraig (26 July 2009 to the present).

The Acting Principal Officers were: Julius D. Torres (3 March 1989-1993); Renato T. Villapando (1 June 1993-1995); Generoso G. Calonge (13 September 1995-26 January 1997); Julia C. Heidemann (27 January 1997-31 May 2001) Wenceslao G. Gayola (31 May 2003-23 June 2003) Belinda M. Ante (June 25-July 25, 2009).

The Consul General has jurisdiction over The Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan, Tinian, Rota and the Northern Islands).

Locations

Primary Office Location

JP Centre, 2/F, Beach Road Garapan Northern Mariana Islands 96950

(670) 235-0560