Cayetano wants passport appointment system removed

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) to study the removal of the passport appointment system and other reforms to be introduced to speed up passport application.

Addressing department employees at the flag-raising ceremony yesterday, he said he instructed his transition team and officials of the DFA passport division to prepare a memorandum containing reforms, when and how these will be implemented.

The nationwide Online Passport Appointment System was launched by the DFA last year.  

All passport applicants visit the website and select the location and time of their preference to make submissions, except for applications for replacement of lost passports.

“I expect by the time I come back from Russia a memo will be on my desk that will contain what, how and when. What can we do to speed up the process and remove the appointment system,” Cayetano said.

The goal is for the applicant to be able to apply for a passport when the individual walks in and receive the passport in a few days. – With Mayen Jaymalin