DFA warns public vs. passport appointment scams online

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday warned the public against advertisements on social media offering passport appointment slots and fake or tampered appointment documents amid the high demand for passport services.

The DFA issued the advisory after passport applicants who have claimed to have secured appointments through social media have turned up at the DFA in recent weeks.

To address the high demand for passport services caused by the implementation of strict quarantine protocols in March and April, the DFA is set to open 10 temporary satellite offices "very soon."

"We want to assure the public that ten temporary satellite offices will be opened very soon to create additional passport appointment slots," said DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay.

The DFA said while it was able to offer 13,000 passport appointment slots per day before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 6,100 slots per day are available now because of restrictions in venue capacity and strict implementation of health and safety protocols such as physical distancing.

It also said most of its consular offices are located inside malls, which had to cease operations in line with the declaration of enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine in the NCR Plus area in March and April, resulting in limited passport appointment slots.

NCR Plus covers Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan and Rizal.

Dulay said the opening of temporary satellite offices will create an additional 2,500 slots in Metro Manila initially and another 2,500 in other regions experiencing a high demand.

The DFA continues to provide courtesy lane access to qualified applicants such as overseas Filipino workers with urgent need to travel, pregnant, elderly and minor applicants, as well as persons with disability and solo parents while physical distancing and health protocols remain in place. However, these appointments have to be scheduled through the DFA online appointment system.

It reminded the public that only appointments secured from the official website, which is www.passport.gov.ph, will be honored.  —KBK, GMA News