DFA reopens consular offices

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will reopen most of its consular offices on Monday to resume the processing of thousands of passport applications put on hold due to the COVID-19 community quarantine.

The reopened consular offices, including most of those in Metro Manila, will process passport applications and other requests for consular services by appointment only.

Appointments should be set through email or phone calls to the consular office, the DFA said on Sunday.

The email addresses and contact details of the consular offices are available at the DFA website.

Passport applicants should proceed to the consular office “only when an appointment is made and confirmation from the consular office is received,” the DFA said.

Meanwhile, the main consular office in DFA Aseana is scheduled to open on June 1.

The consular offices in Ali Mall Cubao, Quezon City; in Mandaue City, Cebu; and in San Pablo City, Laguna, will remain closed due to the continued enhanced community quarantine in those areas.

However, the DFA said the closed consular offices may still provide services to those with urgent travel needs such as overseas Filipino workers who have to return to their jobs abroad, or persons who have to visit a gravely ill family member or attend to a death in the family.

The DFA advised passport applicants to proceed to the consular office “only when an appointment is made and confirmation from the consular office is received.”

Applicants were reminded that consular offices will strictly implement physical distancing, wearing masks and other public health safety measures.