DFA Resumes Passport Processing During MECQ

ILLUSTRATION War Espejo

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it would resume processing passport applications in consular and satellite offices in areas that were downgraded to modified enhanced community quarantine during the last 10 days of August.

All consular offices in the National Capital Region and all Temporary Off-Site Passport Services or TOPS will resume operations. Appointments were previously limited due to the two-week lockdown in high-risk areas nationwide.

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Here's what you need to do if you have a DFA passport appointment scheduled for the month of August:

For applicants with appointments between August 6 to 20, 2021:

• Applicants must follow the new appointment schedule or location which they have received via e-mail.
• TOPS applicants who did not show-up at their rescheduled appointment are advised not to show up at their original Temporary Off-Site Passport Services (TOPS) locations, nor at any DFA Consular Office, as they will not be entertained.
• Concerned applicants are requested to send an e-mail to the following addresses to request for a new appointment schedule:
  • TOPS SM Aura - ncrcentral.so@dfa.gov.ph
  • TOPS SM North Edsa - ncreast.so@dfa.gov.ph
  • TOPS Robinsons Place Magnolia Place - ncrnortheast.so@dfa.gov.ph
  • TOPS Robinsons Place Las Pinas - ncrsouth.so@dfa.gov.ph
  • TOPS SM Mall of Asia - oca.concerns@dfa.gov.ph

For applicants with appointments between August 23 to 31, 2021:

• Applicants must follow their appointment schedule, unless they receive a specific advice not to do so (i.e. unforeseen closure of a specific Consular Office (CO) or TOPS due to disinfection, mandatory quarantine, et cetera).
• No walk-ins
• For Applicants with emergency and urgent medical travel needs, they may send an e-mail request to cl@dfa.gov.ph with copies of their identification documents (current passport or if new applicant, a government-issued ID), proof of their emergency travel. Take note that possession of a flight ticket in itself is not considered urgent

Operations are subject to change depending on the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force, the advisory said. Applicants are advised to check the DFA website frequently for updates regarding passport appointments.

All DFA offices are limiting number of applicants physically present to make room for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the public and staff. All applicants making physical appearances are required ot wear face masks and face shields at all times. Bringing your own pen is strongly advised.

This story originally appeared on Reportr.world. Minor edits have been made by the SPOT.ph editors.

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