MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday announced the signing of a Public-Private Partnership deal with mall giant SM to bring to more than P1-billion the savings to be generated by its initiative to transfer its passport offices to shopping malls nationwide while also achieving its objective of bringing consular services closer to the public.

On Monday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the hosting in SM malls of five consular offices in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction to have entered into this partnership with SM Prime Holdings as the combined PPP 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,” del Rosario said in a statement.

According to Secretary del Rosario, the PPP arrangements with SM will cover the transfer and hosting of existing consular offices in 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.

“In addition to the millions of pesos the government will be saving in the next 10 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 foreign affairs secretary said.

“Our arrangements with SM are also particularly important as the opening of new consular offices at the SM Megamall and SM City in Manila will pave the way for the decongestion of the Office of Consular Affairs at the Aseana Business Park in Parañaque,” he said.

The opening of the first two passport extension offices in Metro Manila Del Rosario said, would allow the DFA to facilitate the consular requirements of some of the more than 10,000 people that visit the main passport facility along Macapagal Avenue daily.