DFA: Plan your travels ahead

CEBU, Philippines — The increasing interest of Filipinos, specifically Cebuanos to travel abroad is one of the reasons why the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA-7) office overshoot its target for passport application and renewal appointments.

This is the explanation made by DFA-7 acting director Emmanuel Espineli amid questions why some Cebuano applicants needed to travel to another province and have their appointments in DFA’s satellite offices.

According to Espineli since DFA implemented its online appointment system for both passport application and renewal, efficiency in service is noted, veering away from long queues, significantly the fixers, as well as travel agencies.

The online platform Espineli said provides convenience to the public, however in order to avoid traveling to other provinces or out-of-Cebu DFA satellite offices, travel plans should be planned ahead.

This means that frequent checking online on the availability of appointment slots at DFA-Cebu should be done if passport is due for renewal or those who are yet to get one.

“Now that everything is online. You need to plan ahead your travels,” he stressed adding that if this is done, getting a passport is much easier and cost efficient now.

In Cebu office, DFA removed 1,200 passport appointment slots that used to be reserved daily for travel agencies. The slots will be given to regular applicants.

Due to increasing number of people wanting to avail of their Philippine passport, Espineli said the agency has to set a limit according to the number of personnel they have.

Spending more time and money to go to other provinces for passport processing can be avoided if renewal and application is planned ahead of time.

DFA Cebu services 420 confirmed online applicants per day.

Special window however is created to accommodate persons with special needs such as OFWs, senior citizens, single parents, minors (7 years old and below) and  persons with disabilities.

This means that these people do not have to set their appointments online, but are considered as walk-ins.

Available slot for appointments, he explained is determined by DFA Central office in Manila. Regional offices do not have control on the online slot availability.

For those that have set their appointments online and failed to show on the specified date will be automatically be restricted from applying online for a month.

If you see an available date for appointment then book it right away," Espineli reiterated adding that unlike in the past that only a few saw the need to get passport, today people are traveling and almost everybody can already afford to travel abroad regardless of status. (FREEMAN)