If you’re desperate to get your hands on the new 10-year Philippine passport but are one of those people who just can’t seem to get a slot at a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office, here’s some good news. The DFA’s “passport on wheels” project launched yesterday, which means the process could get a whole lot easier for you.
They started in Las Piñas, a city in Metro Manila, with four vans that can each process 500 passports, ABS-CBN News reported. On Thursday, these vans will be parked at the Manila City Hall.
According to the DFA, they also plan to extend the project to parts of Visayas and Mindanao.
“Give us a month to six weeks to test all of this. After everything’s been tested, we will be allowing the LGUs (lower government units) to pinpoint schools, companies, factories, malls [for the project],” DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters yesterday.
It’s been difficult to book an appointment at DFA passport centers ever since the department launched the new passport earlier this month. Centers in Manila and some provinces are fully booked until June.
Some people have even resorted to booking appointments in centers outside Manila where the offices are less busy.
Last week, people shared their experience with alleged syndicates that sell passport center slots for as much as PHP 7,000 (US$138.86). However, Cayetano, on Friday, denied that this was happening.
“I’m not saying it’s impossible somebody is scamming people, and saying they have a slot. Anyone can say anything. What I’m saying is, they don’t have a slot, so they don’t have anything to sell to you,” he said.
Mary Marifosque says
Is it allowed na kahit hindi ka taga manila pwede ka kumuha passport dyan?and what are the requirements for renewal if dun ka kukuha?