Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) claimed in a statement on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, that the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) decision not to restore their slots for passport appointments is unfair because it was supposedly a temporary action.
In a press conference, Marlene Dado Jante, president of PTAA, said DFA promised to return the slots allocated to them after three months since its removal last July 31, 2017.
“Sabi sa’min isusupende muna pansamantala. Napaka-unfair para sa travel association,” she said.
PTAA expressed its dismay over the decision because it will no longer authorize them to assist clients in securing appointments.
The DFA has opened 1,200 fixed slots to the public since then and announced in a statement that clients of travel agencies will now have to process passport application and renewal the same way as others.
Currently, there are 256 travel agencies accredited by DFA nationwide and 15% of their revenue comes from passport processing.
