The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is facing 3 million backlog of new and renewed passports amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido “Dodo” Dulay said
“The backlog, meaning the estimate of the number of people who want to get a Philippine passport now, is at three million. Ang dami talaga (there are really so many), if we base it on our historical records,” Dulay said in an interview to Super Radyo dzBB.
“The biggest challenge is really the COVID-19 pandemic because we had to cut our operations by 50% to comply with minimum public health standards. You cannot make all the people go pack the place because social distancing is required,” he added.
The DFA opened off-site centers and the measure could hardly keep up with the demand. An official said that they are eyeing to open more sites for overseas Filipino workers and those renewing their passports.
“The three million backlog is what we are working on, and the challenge really is how can we catch up at a time of the pandemic. We need more sites, and these will only be for OFWs and passport renewal because evaluating documentary requirements takes more time for new passport applicants,” added the DFA official.
“We appeal to the public that if it is not urgent, they should consider deferring it and let those OFWs, with medical concerns and for family reunification avail of the services first. But of course we cannot stop the public from wanting to get a passport since it also speaks of the integrity of our passport system,” he said.
