Cimafranca to Leave Post this Month
DUBAI: After two and a half years, Philippine Consul General Frank Cimafranca, whose office oversees the consular needs of more than 450,000 Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, will turn over the responsibilities to another Filipino diplomat previously posted in Hawaii.
Cimafranca is set to leave on April 24. A farewell party was held on April 21 in his honor by Philippine Consulate officials and staff, various Filipino organizations and other private institutions.
“My stint here in Dubai has been very fruitful and memorable. I would like to thank the Filipino community for the support that they have given to me during my term. I assure that those who will be succeeding me will serve them the same or even more as I did,” Cimafranca told The Filipino Times.
Former Deputy Consul General in Honolulu, Hawaii Paul Raymond Cortez will replace Cimafranca, a career diplomat who rose from the ranks.
Under Cimafranca’s leadership, the Philippine Consulate saw reforms in terms of technology which benefitted thousands of Filipinos who have to queue in for long hours to get their passports renewed.
In previous interviews, the diplomat said the consulate needs more passport machines to speed up the renewal process as well as additional staff to address the needs of the growing Filipino community in Dubai.
More than 750,000 documented Filipinos work and live in the UAE, the bulk of whom live in Dubai.
Philippine Consuls Giovanni Palec and Ryan Pondoc with Vice Consul Ferdinand Flores are the other top ranking diplomatic officials who run the consulate.