Beginning today, Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs will open passport online appointment slots from July to September 2018 at the consular Offices in the Philippines.
But in its advisory, the DFA said the opening of online slots however will not be available in DFA Aseana in Parañaque, as it is still conducting final stages for pilot testing of ePayment.
“Once finalized—and we hope this to materialize very soon—ePayment will be fully implemented in all Consular Offices beginning with DFA Aseana,” the advisory read.
So far, the DFA said that the pilot testing have shown “promising results” with 95-percent individuals showing up for passport appointment.
The ePayment was introduced to minimize the number of slots wasted through non-appearance.
“There are no bogus appointments as applicants now have to pay before an appointment is confirmed,” the DFA stated.
“The time applicants spend at DFA has been reduced considerably, with ePayment decreasing the usual processing time,” it added.
The agency, meanwhile, appealed for the public’s understanding and cooperation as they implement measures to improve the passporting services.”©”©
“The DFA seeks the public’s understanding and cooperation as we continue to implement measures to improve our passporting services and increase our capacity to serve applicants,” it said.
The DFA reminded the public that OFWs, senior citizens, persons with disability, solo parents, minors 7 years old and below and those with emergency and urgent travels may apply for or renew their passports at any Consular Office including DFA Aseana without an online appointment.
Meanwhile, as part of its efforts to bring passport and other consular services closer to the Filipinos wherever they are in the country, the DFA Affairs will soon open two more consular offices in Northern Luzon.
The DFA said it will open a consular office in Ilocos Norte on May 8 and another in Isabela on May 15 at Robinsons Place in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte and Santiago, Isabela.
The new offices inside the shopping mall will operate from Monday to Saturday.
This comes on the heels of the recent reopening of DFA Consular Office Tacloban in Robinsons Mall North Abucay on April 21.
The agency noted that the owner of Robinsons is hosting DFA consular offices free of charge.
“DFA is committed to make its passport and other consular services more accessible to our people. The opening of these two consular offices is a firm example of that commitment,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
“The new locations promise more convenient and comfortable passport application, especially for clients within the area and the nearby provinces who will now experience the improvements that we are making in the passport application system,” the Secretary said.
According to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Frank Cimafranca, DFA passport production increased by nearly 20 percent last year.
The increase was a big jump from the 1.89 percent increase in 2016 and the .054 percent increase in 2015.
Cimafranca said that with the high demand for passports, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 45 allowing the DFA to open additional consular offices.
He said that with the budget given to it by Congress this year, the DFA will open six more consular offices in different regions in the coming months.
DFA has been implementing measures to cope with the strong demand for passports, especially after the roll out of passports valid for 10 years.
These measures include daily deployment of four Passport on Wheels vans; rendition of Saturday work in DFA Aseana; increasing daily capacity of consular offices; and expanding the courtesy lanes to sectors who need them most.