A DEAL between the government and a business group that involves setting up passport offices in a mall chain’s outlets will help the government save about P1 billion within 10 years, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced in a statement yesterday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. President Hans Sy signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement to have the company transfer and host existing consular offices in Davao, Baguio and Batangas, and open extension offices in Mandaluyong and Manila, the statement said. “The combined PPP (public-private partnership) arrangements we have entered into with the private sector since the last quarter of 2011 on this initiative now translates to almost P1.04 billion in savings for the government over a period of 10 years,” Mr. del Rosario was quoted as saying.