DFA hopes to reduce passport backlog by Oct. 31

By MICHAELA DEL CALLAR Published October 5, 2021 12:11pm The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said it hopes to address the current backlog in passport applications by October 31 with the opening of more online application slots and offsite processing centers across the country. DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Senen Mangalile said the department is also addressing concerns on the delay in the delivery of thousands of passports. “We will do whatever is needed to make a significant reduction in the backlog,” he said. “October 31 is our self-imposed deadline.” From July 8 to October 2, Mangalile said the DFA successfully processed 648,151 passports but 48,261 were either suspended or being validated. The DFA told lawmakers during budget deliberations in August that there is an estimated 3 to 4 million backlog in passport renewals as most of its staff were infected with COVID-19. Since the DFA opened temporary offsite passport services in malls to address the backlog, Mangalile said they were able to process applications within the normal 12-day turnaround time. However, thousands of passport applications were put on hold due to erroneous details provided by applicants. Delayed applications were caused by applicants’ errors in the names or dates of birth in the online application form, which required manual correction. Mangalile urged the public to ensure accuracy with their personal information as applicants with errors on their forms are now required to return for another appointment. Another problem was the non-delivery of passports by the DFA’s previous passport courier service provider. The DFA has already terminated the services of the courier service provider due to mounting complaints on unfulfilled passport deliveries. Since Oct. 1, courier service provider Air21 has assumed the passport deliveries, while the DFA also plans to tap LBC. The DFA recently opened a passport releasing office at the bigger and more spacious Double Dragon Plaza in Pasay City, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people a day. Passports that are to be picked up by the applicants are released at the site from Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Passport applicants can also check the status of their application at the DFA’s tracking website at consular.gov.ph. For overseas Filipino workers urgently requiring passport issuance, the DFA said its Courtesy Lane facility is open to them and appointments can be requested through email at oca.cl@dfa.gov.ph. The DFA also urged the public who do not have an urgent reason to travel to postpone their passport applications or renewals so that more slots can be accessed by those who really need it. “We are doing what we can to speed up process of correction without compromising security,” Mangalile said, adding the department is adding more personnel to fast-track applications. The DFA, he explained, can only tap additional staff within their ranks who have security clearance because passport processing handles sensitive data. On top of the existing offsite processing centers in malls, he said new sites in Manila, San Pedro in Laguna, Cebu City, Davao City, and Lipa City in Batangas will open in October. He said the DFA hopes to open more sites before the end of the year and expects to operate the centers until 2022 if congress approves its request for additional funding. Mangalile said passport appointment slots for October to December 2021 will be opened soon while it makes adjustments to the system to secure it against enterprising groups or individuals who sell passport slots on social media. He reminded the public that passport appointment slots are free and may only be booked online using the DFA’s official website. —KBK, GMA News