DFA processes more than daily average number of passports during typhoon

The Philippine government was able to process more than the daily average number of passports on Wednesday, despite a typhoon that cut power lines, resulting in a blackout that plunged Metro Manila in darkness. At least 5,700 passport applications were processed the whole day of Wednesday, breaching its daily target of 4,000, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday. Electronic passport applications scheduled for the July 14 were processed within the day, the DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs said in a release. However, in a separate statement, the DFA earlier said that only 2,000 passport applications were processed on Wednesday, which is way below its target of about 4,000 daily. No explanation was offered regarding the discrepancy in the figures. Applicants who were unable to make it to their appointment on July 14 were accommodated the next day, OCA assistant secretary Jaime Victor Ledda said. “The OFWs, the elderly, the disabled, and families with children were given the courtesy lane, enabling the entire processing from entry to exit within 40 minutes and the latter within 20 minutes, much less than our regular target of 1 hour in both cases," said Ledda. The DFA said it recently purchased a heavy-duty generator set that provided continuous electricity supply to sustain consular operations from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, after lights began to go out as early as Tuesday night. The power generator allows the DFA flexibility to provide uninterrupted service and support critical equipment related to data transmission in times of emergency or natural calamities. “The new DFA consular building along Macapagal Avenue is equipped with a standby generator which allowed the passport division to hold normal office hours, honor passport application appointments, and process applications," DFA spokesperson Eduardo Malaya said in a text message. He added Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo personally visited the facility to ensure continued service. The DFA earlier received a barrage of criticism after passport applicants spent longer times securing appointments. Applicants also complained about higher fees for the new electronic passport and the alleged presence of fixers in its new consular building. However, the department maintained it has addressed these problems. - Jerrie M. Abella, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV