MANILA (AdChoiceTV News) — The Department of foreign Affairs has announced that 177,500 additional appointment slots have been opened for passport applicants living in the NCR Plus area.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DFA said Temporary Offsite Passport Services (TOPS) offices will open at SM Mall of Asia, SM City North Edsa, SM Aura, Robinsons Place Las Piñas, and 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,” said DFA Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Brigido Dulay.
Applicants can schedule an appointment via the DFA’s online system, the statement said, adding that each site can receive 500 appointments daily and will operate Mondays through Saturdays.
“A total of 177,500 additional passport appointment slots have become available until the end of September on the DFA’s online appointment system on top of the regular appointment slots at the Department’s ASEANA office and its consular offices all over the country,” Dulay said.
He added that TOPS sites will be opened in other regions with a high demand for passport appointments but did not say when this would happen.
The DFA also warned the public against individuals who introduce themselves as “fixers” promising appointment slots.
Reporting by Albert Rovic Tan
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