DFA now requires online appointment system in Tacloban City



By: Lottie Salarda

Tacloban City – The office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Tacloban City is now requiring the passport applicants to go online to schedule their appointment. This initiative of DFA Manila started last July 1 to lessen the long lines of the waiting applicants outside their office.

According to DFA Tacloban Consular Head Karen Terado, the online appointment system aims to have an efficient process of applicant’s passport. They just need to go to online by logging in at https://www.passport.gov.ph and follow the procedures.
Terado said that Senior Citizens, infants, persons with disabilities and OFWs do not necessarily need to apply online because they are their priority. Although their office still accepts walk-in applicants because they are still in the transition period, they encouraged the public who are going to apply for a passport to apply online and follow the procedure.
The Regional Consular Office accepts a maximum of 180 appointments a day before the implementation of the online appointment system.
But this new online appointment system hasn’t reach Rowena G. Sabandal, 32 y/o, a single mother, a resident of Brgy Taglibas, Matalom Leyte who travelled all the way from their residence to apply for her passport in Tacloban City.
Her cousin who encouraged her to apply as a domestic helper in the Middle East told her the requirements for having a passport. She loaned 5,000 pesos for the process of her application but only to find out that she lacks requirements –her NSO birth certificate and NBI clearance. She travels more than 4 hours just to reach the office of the DFA in Tacloban City.
She went to the NSO on Tuesday with 361 as her priority number. She was accommodated at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon. Their place has no internet signal. She was not aware that the Department of Foreign Affairs now requires online appointment system since July 1.
 “Sana magkaroon ng NBI at NSO office sa Baybay o sa Maasin para hindi na ganun kahirap para sa mga nasa malalayong lugar nakatira gaya namin,” said Sabandal.
Joann G. Rac of Brgy Botaera, Zumarraga Samar shared the same sentiments as she and her husband allocated one day for their travel from their residence to Tacloban City. The town of Zumarraga is an island town of Samar. ###


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