The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has opened 100,000 passport appointment slots today, June 14, 2018.
Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano made this announcement after the DFA officially launched its passport ePayment system.
Cayetano said 50,000 slots have been opened as of 12 noon, while the other 50,000 slots would be opened in the evening.
The DFA also said it would open 10,000 slots from Monday to Saturday, except holidays, and applicants can expect 5,000 slots to be made available at noon and another 5,000 at 9:00 p.m., the agency said.
Cayetano said the introduction of ePayment upgrade in the passport appointment system will make sure that applicants will show up on their scheduled personal appearance.
This will lessen unnecessary and no-show appointments since the pre-payment cannot be refunded, he added.
Applicants can pay their passport processing fee through Bayad Center, EcPay, Pera Hub, Robinsons Business Center and Department Store, Walter Mart Department Store, 7-Eleven, USCC Western Union, and Villarica Pawnshop.
DFA is also set to introduce a pre-payment mode through credit or debit cards, and over-the-counter bank transaction.
The processing fee remains at P 950 for regular and P 1,200 for expedited processing, however, an additional P50 convenience fee will be charged by authorized payment centers.
“Not only will this new payment system be convenient since applicants can pay the fees anywhere, anytime; it will also help us maximize the capacity of our consular offices,” Cayetano said.
The DFA chief boasted the increase in passport handling capacity from 10,500 daily in 2017 to 19,000 daily capacity at present.
The DFA targets to introduce the ePayment system in the National Capital Region in July, and eventually through out the country in August 2018.
To book an appointment slot, log on to https://www.passport.gov.ph. /kga