Getting that Philippine Passport (Part 2 of 2).

So you finally photocopied each and every ID and paperwork that you have. Does that mean you can walk into the DFA Office and dump all your paperwork and then walk out?

No.

Does that mean we have to push and shove and hope that we make the cut off?

People praying to get their passports.

Again, No. 

Thanks to the new DFA Passport Appointment System, I was able to apply for a schedule online. If you are applying, feel free to visit their site and read more here. If you want to set up an appointment immediately, the link is http://passport.com.ph/set-appointment.

The site is fairly easy to navigate and my application was done in about 5 minutes. Just follow the onscreen directions and make sure to input the correct information (mother's maiden name).  After the application you will receive an email with a link to print out the passport application forms. 

  

     

Print out these 2 forms on LONG bond paper. 

The website advises that you come in at least 30 minutes before your appointed time and I thought that it was a bit strange since I got an "appointment". I thought it would be a one on one session with a DFA employee but I was wrong. DEAD wrong. 

Here is a map of the DFA site just to give you an idea on where to go:

The arrows point to the treasure.

I arrived an hour before my scheduled time and they let me in. Inside the compound they checked the printout (see above) and told me to proceed to the processing windows. In this area, the line moves quickly since there are about 20 windows. They will assess your paperwork and IDs and tell you if you can move on to the next step or go home and furnish more.  

My papers got accepted and the next step is easier and quicker. They had me pay the processing fee and gave me a claiming stub and told me to proceed to the next step, which is called encoding. 

Did i mention I arrived an hour before my time? Well, there is a reason they ask you to come in 30 minutes earlier. It's because when I was in the encoding section, there were 300 people ahead of me. Yes, 300! This is where they take your photo, input your details and tell you to come back. I was almost bent on waiting for about 2 hours so what I did was I went to the section that deals with the agency applications to wait it out.

The DFA Office of Consular Affairs building.

I chose a chair near the processors and waited for my number (This is not a tip). Luckily, one of the supervisors noticed me and asked if I was alone. I said yes, so he got my application and it was processed right away! See, waiting is not that bad! 

And yes, I kept the claim stub safe because I was warned that I won't be able to claim my passport if I don't have that. After the promised 15 days I went back and yes, I got my passport. 

I used to hear a lot of stories on how hard it is to get anything done when you deal with government institutions. What I realized is that this does not seem to be true anymore. The DFA office is orderly, clean and air-conditioned. The DFA employees are smiling and accommodating. There is progress in the Philippines. And if this is any indication of where our country is moving towards, I'm all for it.