View source for DFA exerting all efforts to speed up passport processing

*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1022477
*Tuesday, January 23, 2018
:By Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario (PNA)

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano on Monday said the department is exerting all-out efforts to speed up the processing of passport applications.

“With the present atmosphere of technology, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should not close its doors to innovations. We are moving as fast as we can, given the government regulations,” Cayetano said during the conduct of “Passport on Wheels” to local residents at the City Hall grounds here.

He said Angeles City is the first city outside Metro Manila to have access to the mobile passport application system where DFA deployed a total of three mobile vans which are capable of capturing and storing 500 passport data applications per machine.

The project also aims to decongest the passport processing of the consular office located at the third floor of MarQuee Mall as it serves a huge number of people coming from Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and even parts of Pangasinan.

More than 1,400 pre-registered applicants from nearby towns and provinces were served by the mobile passport processing of new applications and renewal.

Applicants began to flock to the city’s Legislative Hall as early as 6 a.m. to avoid long queues.

Receiving of applications went on orderly and peacefully with the assistance of the employees of the city government.

Zarina Palo, an applicant from Mabalacat City, said that she has been trying to book a schedule for the renewal of her passport online. Unfortunately, schedules are already fully-booked until June 2018.

“When I heard about this passport caravan, I rushed to have my name listed because I have plans in mind for this coming vacation. It is indeed a very good action especially to us who are having a hard time booking for schedules online,” said Palo.

Angelita Castro of Angeles City expressed her satisfaction on the speedy and well-organized processing of passport application here, saying that “it is a proactive move and campaign of the agency and the city”.

At an average, the passport processing time is 30 minutes to less than an hour. Only those who have pre-registered were accommodated. However, the DFA allowed some of the walk-in applicants to have their application processed.

Cayetano said a courtesy lane was also established for senior citizens, babies below one year old, visibly pregnant women, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). As such, no appointment booking is required for them. OFWs must present sufficient proof such as a valid employment contract.

The DFA will be adding nine more consular offices to be situated in provinces near Metro Manila in the coming years.

For his part, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan lauded the efforts of the DFA in making passport processing services closer to the people.

“Upon completing the target number of application this day, we received reports that there are still numerous walk-in applicants despite our notice that only those who have pre-registered will be accommodated,” Pamintuan said.

“We will request another day for our constituents who did not make it to the cut-off,” the mayor said.

The DFA Secretary was quick to respond to this request, saying that another 'Passport on Wheels" will be scheduled for Angeles City.