DFA cites improved economy for spike in passport applicants

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the number of Filipinos securing passports has been increasing and for this year alone, it expects to process about 4 million applications.

Ricarte Abejuela III, DFA passport division director, said the DFA, in 2010, processed about 2.8 million applications.

“But around 2012, it slowly increased to 3 million, 3.1 million then 3.2 million. Last year we produced 3.7 million, I think,” said Abejuela, who spoke to reporters during the DFA passport on wheels program here last week.

He cited the country’s improved economy, cheap fares offered by airlines, and the high demand for Filipino workers abroad as among the possible reasons for the increasing number of passport applications.

Abejuela said the 4,500 applications the DFA received during its two-day mobile passport processing in Davao City were the largest batch, exceeding the normal daily volume of 1,500. —Joselle R. Badilla