DFA’s passport renewal backlog hits 3-4M
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has about three to four million passport renewal backlog due to the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said that various DFA offices in the country had to temporarily close due to the strict lockdown imposed by the government.
“We admit, your honor, that there is a current backlog of around three to four million for passport renewals. And this really stems from the pandemic, which has limited our ability to provide the usual, regular services and passport renewals to a lot of Filipinos,” Dulay told lawmakers during the House deliberations on DFA’s proposed P21-billion budget for 2022.
The DFA has put up more temporary offsite passport services centers to lessen the backlog.
