The Department of Foreign Affairs opened more offsite passport centers in five Metro Manila malls to address the backlog and accommodate more applicants.
DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido Dulay, said the temporary offsite centers are located in SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, SM Aura, Robinson’s Place Las Piñas, and Robinsons Magnolia.
The DFA also plans to open more offsite centers outside the NCR Plus area to serve more Filipinos.
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“This will resolve the current backlog and address the high demand for passports,” he said in a virtual briefing.
Dulay said that the centers are now operational which will be opened from Monday to Saturday. The centers also have the capacity to accept 500 appointments daily.
These will be on top of the daily 117,500 daily passport applications.
The DFA has been processing 13,000 passport applications a day before the coornavirus pandemic.
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But due to the restrictions, the DFA can only accommodate 6,167 slots a day.
Dulay also warned about passport slots being sold online.
“Huwag sana nila ipatronize itong mga klaseng nago-offer ng appointment slots sapagka’t di kayo nakakasigurado na ito ay legal o totoo,” Dulay said. (TDT)
