NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) told the public on Thursday that steps are being taken to address the issue of online fixers and scammers harming its consular services.

In a news conference, DFA Assistant Secretary Eduardo Menez said, “Of course, the online appointment system is constantly being examined and we want to enhance the system, which is why the decision to enable walk-in applicants was made.”

The coronavirus epidemic wreaked havoc on the DFA’s consular services, forcing the agency to operate with dwindling manpower and track down fixers selling already rare appointment spaces online.

According to the DFA, two recruitment companies, Canferz Payment and Ticketing Center and Valesco-SMS Inc., illegally distributed and profited from the sale of passport appointment slots reserved only for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through social media.

As a result, the agency closed the OFW passport appointment portal and opened the courtesy lane for eligible walk-in applicants, including OFWs.

Following the DFA’s statement that walk-in applications for apostille services would be allowed, several applicants flocked to DFA Aseana after business hours earlier this week.

To accommodate these applicants, the DFA stated it had to cease walk-in applications on March 23.

During the same press conference, DFA Deputy Assistant Secretary Christian de Jesus criticized many recruitment agencies for providing misleading information, which resulted in an inflow of applicants on March 22.

“The DFA considers this behavior of certain recruitment agencies to be highly irresponsible and malicious, not only for disregarding the DFA’s announced limits for walk-in applicants and attempting to monopolize DFA’s walk-in services to the detriment of other eligible applicants, but also for disregarding the welfare of our OFWs, whom they ought to protect by putting them out in the streets in the middle of the night,” he said.

Apostille application on the spot

The Department of Foreign Affairs has imposed a limit of 300 walk-ins at DFA Aseana’s passport courtesy lane, as well as another 300 for walk-in authentication/apostille applicants.

At its consular offices in Megamall (100 applicants), SM Manila (150 applicants), Robinsons Star Mall (80 applicants), Alabang Town Center (150 applicants), Robinson’s Place Iloilo (60 applicants), Ali Mall Cubao (80 applicants), CSI Mall in La Union (50 applicants), SM City Davao (90 applicants), Pacific Mall Mandaue (100 applicants), and SM Downton Premier in Cagayan De Oro, the agency is also accepting walk-in applicants for (37 applicants).

Apart from the document that needs to be apostilled, De Jesus said there are no eligibility conditions for apostille applicants.

Furthermore, he stated that there are no apostille application backlogs because the DFA had previously accommodated individuals who submitted online prior to the announcement for walk-ins.

Meanwhile, De Jesus urged the public to avoid dealing with fixers who pretend to help people secure passport and authentication appointment slots while collecting exorbitant prices.

“DFA is putting forth all efforts and collaborating with appropriate agencies to put an end to enterprising people and groups abusing appointment slots,” he said.

“The Department is listening to the public’s outcry and remains committed to resolving difficulties surrounding consular services and effectively delivering these services to Filipinos,” he added.

At the moment, daily online appointments for passport services might reach 14,855, with apostille applications reaching 1,400 per day.

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