On March 14, the Department of Foreign Affairs will allow walk-in passport applicants, which include overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), at its Aseana Business Park office in Parañaque City.
All applicants will be accommodated at the DFA’s Aseana office from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. However, they must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they can enter the passport courtesy lane.
Passport Courtesy Lane Walk-ins Allowed in DFA-Aseana; No More Slots Given To Recruiters
In a response to a query on Twitter on Wednesday, the DFA confirmed that the Courtesy Lane at DFA Aseana will accommodate qualified and fully vaccinated walk-in applicants from 1-5pm only, the PNA reported.
“Minor applicants will follow the vaccination status of their accompanying parents/guardians,” it also noted in a separate advisory posted via its official website.
As for OFWs, the DFA said they should either be active or have a valid employment contract to renew their passports via the courtesy lane.
No More Slots for Recruiters
In line with this, the DFA also told recruiters that they would no longer be granted appointment slots based on Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.’s orders.
“Some can’t handle the temptation. Starting March 14th, DFA Aseana will allow OFWs as walk-in if they have supporting documents,” Brigido Dulay, the DFA’s Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, noted in a tweet.
SFA @teddyboylocsin just gave orders to stop allocating passport appointment slots to recruiters; some can’t handle the temptation. Starting March 14th, DFA Aseana will allow OFWs as walk-in if they have supporting documents. @dfaoca @DFAPHL pic.twitter.com/fflrQ64Sie
— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) March 8, 2022
“We are blocking those fixers. Their days are numbered,” Locsin also said on Twitter.
The DFA’s response was based on the issue of passport appointment slots aired on social media.
Twitter users showed Locsin several websites that offered passport appointment slots when DFA did not open new slots in its online booking system.
There were also complaints about the number of fixers involved in the process.
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