Layon nitong makapagbigay ng karagdagang 177,500 passport appointment slots sa publiko sa bahagi ng NCR.
Ayon kay Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido Dulay, binuksan ang DFA Temporary Offsite Passport Services (TOPS) offices sa SM Mall of Asia, SM City North Edsa, SM Aura, Robinsons Place Las Piñas, at Robinsons Place Magnolia.
“The DFA is aware of the demand for passport appointment slots during the pandemic and so we prepared a temporary expansion of our consular operations in off-site locations to address this need while maintaining health and safety protocols,” ani Dulay.
Maaring ma-access ang appointment slots sa limang TOPS sa pamamagitan ng online appointment system website ng kagawaran na www.passport.gov.ph.
Bawat TOPS site ay may kapasidad na tumanggap ng 500 appointments kada araw at operational ito mula Lunes hanggang Sabado.
Magiging bukas ang dagdag na passport appointment slots hanggang sa pagtatapos ng Setyembre sa online appointment system ng DFA, maliban pa ito sa regular appointment slots sa DFA ASEANA office at consular offices sa buong bansa.
Inanunsiyo rin ni Dulay na bukas ang TOPS offices sa Courtesy Lane clients tulad ng OFWs na may valid contracts, senior citizens, buntis, batang may edad pitong taong gulang pababa, persons with disabilities, at solo parents.
Maaring ma-access ang Courtesy Lane clients sa pasilidad sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng email sa oca.cl@dfa.gov.ph
Sinabi ng DFA na magbubukas din sila ng TOPS sites sa iba pang rehiyon na may mataas na demand ng passport appointments.
“We advise applicants to avoid falling prey to online fraudsters and scammers who are taking advantage of the situation by charging hefty fees,” saad ni Dulay.
Nilinaw nito na libre ang passport appointment slots at available lamang sa opisyal na website ng DFA.