Lines still long for passport application despite new DFA policy



Long lines of passport applicants can still be seen at the Department of Foreign Affairs' Consular Office in Pasay City despite the new policy that aims to reduce the application process from three months to three weeks, GMA News' JP Soriano reported on Balitanghali on Wednesday.
One applicant, Toto Garlitos Jr., said he is worried that his contract as a seaman might be cancelled if the long lines don't ease up any time soon and he fails to renew his passport.
"Once na hindi ko po ito naibigay sa agency ko, 'yung bagong renew [na passport], it could [mean] cancellation of my contract, so maghihintay na naman ako. Mahirap po sa amin 'yun na mga seafarer," Garlitos said.
Under the new policy, travel agencies can no longer give dedicated appointment slots to its clients. Before, travel agencies can give 1,200 slots per day.
"Ang nangyari is nagdagdag tayo ng additional slots para sa appointment systems, so lahat ngayon ng mga applicante, whether dumaan ka ng travel agency or sariling sikap mo, dadaan at dadaan kayo sa appointment system," said Ricarte Abejuela III, acting director of the Passport Division of the DFA Office of Consular Affairs.
"It's basically treating everybody equally."
The move was also designed to cut down the backlog of passport requests, hasten passport renewals, and remove bogus appointments sold by scammers on social media.
According to the DFA, 10,000 to 12,000 passports are issued every day. —Rie Takumi/KBK/KVD, GMA News

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