After earlier announcing passport applications from July 2018 onward were not yet open due to the implementation of enhancements to the online system, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released a public advisory yesterday saying appointments from July 2018 to September 2018 would be available today, May 2.

The agency earlier indicated they were adding an ePayment system, which would allow applicants to make necessary payments with their payment facility of choice.

The DFA said slots would open once ePayment is officially launched, following pilot tests, which they said were ongoing.

“The pilot tests have shown promising results,” the latest release noted. “There are no bogus appointments as applicants now have to pay before an appointment is confirmed.”

“The time applicants spend at DFA has been reduced considerably,” the advisory added.

The agency had been under fire earlier this year after it was revealed appointments, a requirement when applying for a new passport or renewal, were fully booked through March 2018.

DFA employees were accused of intentionally blocking schedules for the online appointment process after being paid by local travel agencies, who then charge customers P4,500 to P5,000 for “passport assistance.”

Following the initial controversy, the DFA opened 100,000 new appointment slots for passport applications and renewals between February and May./WDJ