DFA’s regional offices to issue ePassports starting March 15

Starting Monday, March 15, the Department of Foreign Affairs will issue ePassports in 10 of its 18 regional consular offices (RCO). The DFA made the announcement Saturday following the opening of its multimillion consular office in Parañaque and the full implementation of the issuance of the ePassport early this week. The ePassport will be made available to the public in the department’s RCOs in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, San Fernando in Pampanga, San Fernando in La Union, Lucena, and Tuguegarao. The remaining eight RCOs and all Philippine embassies and consulates-general will be issuing ePassports later this year, the DFA added in a statement posted on its Web site. The ePassport has such features as an integrated circuit chip storing the passport holder's photograph and personal information; an Automated Fingerprint Identification System to guard against identity theft and fraud; security features like invisible personal information, letter-screen, micro-printing, and UV reactive ink; and an enhanced Machine Readable Passport using biometric technology. The DFA likewise reminded applicants they are no longer required to bring photographs as their pictures will be taken using ePassport data-capturing machines. "Filipinos who reside in the provinces need not come to Manila to get a passport. They only have to go to the DFA regional office nearest to them and avail of the same services," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo said. - Jerrie Abella/KBK, GMANews.TV