The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is currently under fire for a backlog of applications on both new and renewal passports, which The Philippine Star reports, as per a January 13 article, ranges between 400,000 to one million passports. With a visit to the online appointment system a requirement to start the process, applicants are finding all available slots are filled through March 2018. Yet, despite all that, according to a report by PTV over the weekend, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano called it “the best system.”

Back in April 2014, applied for a passport renewal at the local DFA office at Robinsons Place Bacolod, at the time, walk-ins were still welcome and managed to get the process done fairly swiftly. The only hiccup came in receiving the passport itself, had applied for expedited shipping, paid the higher fee, yet it arrived at just about the same time had it been standard delivery (lesson learned, do not opt for expedited shipping in the future).

Hopefully this backlog situation improves by the time the renewal date rolls around, which is just over a year from now.

As a bearer of dual citizenship, am also equipped with two passports and comparing the renewal process between the two countries offers a stark contrast; have also witnessed the process of renewing a United States passport with the US consulate in the Philippines, and the process still provided a more efficient process.

When first applying for a US passport, the process requires an application form, proof of US citizenship (with photocopies of the relevant documents), a current form of identification (with photocopy), and a passport photo be brought to a passport acceptance facility, which is usually located at any government complex or the local post office. Once all documents are submitted and approved, it’s a matter of waiting – for first time applicants, a notification is sent when the passport is available for pick up at the said facility.

Renewals are even more convenient because it is entirely done via mail. For this process, applicants must complete a form (which is available both online and at the local post office), provide their old passport, documents if there are any changes to the original information, and a new passport photo. Renewal passports are then sent back via mail, accompanied by the old one, which is voided (a good keepsake for those special stamps).

Even applying to renew an American passport in the Philippines was a straightforward process. It was merely applying with the United States embassy via mail (or online), which is shortly followed by instructions to process payment in person, either at the embassy in Manila or the consulate facility in Cebu. Once completed, the renewed passport is sent through a courier service.

Having experienced much more efficient systems, have a very difficult understanding how the current DFA process, as the secretary believes, is “the best system.”

Even other government processes have been successfully accomplished through the Philippine consulate in New York City rather than domestically.

For example, registering to vote was done immediately after being sworn in as dual citizen (which was also completed within one business day, from application to oath-taking). Representatives were at the ready with forms, along with taking photos and fingerprints for a voter identification card (which, to this day, has yet to be received; however, employees at the consulate noted they were also without IDs). In the end, an absentee ballot was mailed home and was able to vote in the 2010 election.

After moving to the Philippines, tried registering the vote at the Bacolod City Commission on Elections (Comelec) office and was turned away and told a visit to the main office in Manila and contacting the consulate in New York City was required before they could proceed with a registration. As the representative said, “Then come back and tell me what they said” – still not registered to vote in the Philippines; in contrast, was able to register for the 2016 US presidential election online from Bacolod City.

In both situations, there was a massive difference in processes between the efficiency of a consulate and an actual facility of the Philippine government.

The government can boast all they want about the slight uptick in the recent “powerful” passport survey (from No. 75 to No. 72), but when nobody is able to acquire such documents, then the recognition is just for show.

If my passport expires in April of next year, and it’s recommended to renew six months prior to expiration, taking into account the backlog, should probably make an appointment as soon as possible and, maybe, a renewed passport will be prepared by …2020?/WDJ