THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has opened three temporary off-site passport services (TOPS) facility to process applications for passport renewal in a bid to address its growing application backlog.
Brigido Dulay, who is DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, said the three TOPS opened last Monday at the Robinsons Novaliches and Lipa City, and in SM Manila.
“Per marching orders of SFA (Secretary of Foreign Affairs) Teddy Boy Locsin to address the demand for more passport appointment slots, we opened on November 15 three new TOPS site dedicated to passport renewals only,” Dulay said.
Dulay said the DFA has already opened 10 similar facilities for “all types of passport applications.”
“This adds at least 5,200 appointment slots per day in addition to the appointment slots in all our consular and satellite offices nationwide,” he said.
In a related development, the DFA’s Office of the Consular Affairs said it is working to resolve the issues on the booking of passport appointments and applicant’s non-receipt of confirmation emails which contain the application packet.
