Ilang recruitment agency na nagpakalat umano ng maling impormasyon tungkol sa walk-in applications kaya dumagsa ang mga pumila sa Consular Office sa Parañaque ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Sa pahayag ng inilabas ng DFA nitong Huwebes, sinabi ng DFA na ilan sa mga aplikanteng magtatrabaho sa abroad ang sinabihan umano ng kanilang manpower agencies na magtungo sa consular office at pumila para makakuha ng appointment slots.

"DFA’s preliminary investigation into the incident revealed that several recruitment agencies had disseminated misinformation among their applicants regarding the Department’s walk-in policy," ayon sa DFA.

"According to accounts of applicants, their recruitment agencies urged them to line up and stay overnight at DFA Aseana so that all their travel documents could be expedited. Other applicants conveyed that their agencies instructed them late at night to proceed to DFA-Aseana immediately," dagdag nito.

Nitong Marso 22,  inihayag ng DFA na tatanggap na ng walk-in applicants para sa Apostille o document authentication services.

Pero dumagsa ang mga aplikante na pumila sa labas ng DFA-Aseana building noong gabi pa lang Marso 22 hanggang sa sumunod na araw kinaumagahan.

"DFA considers this behavior of certain recruitment agencies highly irresponsible and malicious, not only for disregarding the DFA’s announced limits for walk-in applicants and attempting to monopolize DFA’s walk-in services to the detriment of other eligible applicants, but also for disregarding the welfare of our OFWs whom they ought to protect by putting them out in the streets in the middle of the night," ayon sa DFA.

Sa isang araw, umaabot lang sa 900 passport applications at 1,400 authentication applications na nakapag-booked sa online appointment systems ang kayang asikasuhin sa main consular office sa Aseana.

Hanggang 300 walk-in applicants naman kayang asikasuhin sa Passport Courtesy Lane at 300 walk-in applicants para sa Authentication/Apostille services.

"For safety and health reasons, the Department urges the public not to line up beyond operational hours," pakiusap ng DFA.

Ang ibang walk-in applicants ay maaari umanong magtungo sa 10 off-site offices sa Megamall (100 applicants); SM Manila (150 applicants); Robinsons Star Mall (80 applicants); Alabang Town Center (150 applicants); Robinson’s Place Iloilo (60 applicants); Ali Mall Cubao (80 applicants); CSI Mall in La Union (50 applicants); SM City Davao (90 applicants); Pacific Mall Mandaue (100 applicants); at SM Downton Premier sa Cagayan De Oro (37 applicants).

Pinaalalahanan din ng DFA ang publiko na huwag makikipagtransaksiyon sa mga "fixer" na mangangako na maikukuha sila ng passport at authentication appointment slots kapalit ng malaking halaga.

"DFA is exerting all efforts and coordinating with relevant agencies to put a stop to the abuse of appointment slots by enterprising individuals and groups," ayon sa DFA.

"The Department heeds the public’s clamor and remains steadfast in its commitment to resolve issues surrounding consular services and delivering these services effectively to Filipinos," patuloy nito —FRJ, GMA News