OFWs benefited from 2.3-M MRPs released in '08

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 2.3 million machine-readable passports (MRPs) have been given to Filipinos in various parts of the globe, making travel easier and hassle-free, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) benefited the most from the release of the new passports. “MRPs are friendly to expatriates," Romulo said in a press briefing recently. “Before they were asked to be set aside, which causes a lot of trouble and aggravation." The new Philippine passport takes one to two weeks before it could be released. According to Romulo, only five percent of the 34 Philippine posts all over the globe have not been giving out the MRPs due to fewer applicants. The DFA began issuing the electronic passports to first-time applicants in September 2007. In August last year, it started issuing the new machine-readable passports to renewal applicants, OFWs and senior citizens. Libanan said the processing time for MRP holders will be cut by 15 seconds, At present, it takes an immigration officer an average of 45 seconds to process manually-read passport. DFA officials said the MRP is safer and more secure travel document, which is comparable to passports of other countries as it complies with international standards. - GMANews.TV