DFA eyes to process 30,000 passports a day by year-end
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs is on its way to speed up its passport processing capacity to 30,000 daily by the end of the year, Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.
The Philippines' top diplomat said that the government owes the public an efficient, fast and safe system.
"As of today, we are processing 19,000 to 19,500 a day. And by the end of the year, it will be 30,000. By the end of the year, we expect that it will be easier to acquire (a passport)," Cayetano told radio dzMM Wednesday.
The DFA has improved its passport processing by extending hours, removing slot allotments for travel agencies and providing an express lane for persons with disability, single parents and overseas Filipino workers.
The secretary noted that the agency would also open eight new consular offices that would process passport applications. The offices would be functional by the end of the year.
The agency's e-payment system also improved the attendance rate of applicants who have reserved their appointment slots online.
"Now, 94 percent shows up. Before, only six or seven out of 10 people who scheduled an appointment would show up," Cayetano said.
Cayetano appealed to the public to give the DFA "enough time" to improve its services as the budget was only released last year.
"In fact, the 100 additional persons were only being hired now just because of the normal government processes," he added.
The DFA chief is also eyeing to acquire printers in America, the Middle East or Europe as embassies of other countries have their own printer.
"So when you apply, when you place it there, within a day or maybe in a few days they will give it to you," he said.
Earlier this month, the DFA announced that it has opened an additional 100,000 passport appointment slots.
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