DFA: Finally a decent government sector here in PH!
By staria
@staria (2780)
Philippines
April 5, 2011 1:47am CST
Hi guys!
Applied for a new passport. Went to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as scheduled. They didn't fail me, I finished every step in less than one hour!
If only their system applies to every government sector here in PH, things will be a breeze. They arent wasting the most important thing, w/c is time. No more long and non-systematic lines, no more impatient citizens waiting to be served. The office is clean and cold too (the one along Macapagal). Just sharing, so to let everyone know that getting a new passport or renewal of passports here in PH is now as easy as 1,2,3! 
Downside would be I waited two months for my appearance and they arent processing expedite passports as of the moment since they have a lot of pending ones, but I think it's okay at least you only need to wait at home.
If only their system applies to every government sector here in PH, things will be a breeze. They arent wasting the most important thing, w/c is time. No more long and non-systematic lines, no more impatient citizens waiting to be served. The office is clean and cold too (the one along Macapagal). Just sharing, so to let everyone know that getting a new passport or renewal of passports here in PH is now as easy as 1,2,3!
Downside would be I waited two months for my appearance and they arent processing expedite passports as of the moment since they have a lot of pending ones, but I think it's okay at least you only need to wait at home.4 people like this
36 responses
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
5 Apr 11
Well, that's pretty amazing! Here it doesn't matter which government office you go to it will take you forever. You wait just to wait or so it seems. Passports are recieved in about 2 weeks, but to get that little picture you'll have to wait an hour or so!
2 people like this
@MsPatriciaDV (635)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
Congratulations then! That's the first time I heard (or read) a Filipino commending public service in our country. That's a big improvement from the previous transactions most of us experienced with the DFA. Hopefully that will not be a ningas - kugon.
2 people like this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
5 Apr 11
This is great news. I remember trying to get mine several years ago here in the US and gosh it took me like 6 hours and still did not resolve the processing of my application. Granted it was due to a few errors of mine.
It is quite easier now to renew via mail here. Also our Post Office now also handles it for us. The wait time for us is also lengthy but I am okay with that because they have to make sure to get full clearance and I am sure their paperwork can get backed up.
With careful planning the wait will not seem bad, is my thoughts. It is when one needs in a hurry that we tend to feel the wait is way too long. But glad to hear that yours is in processing.
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
Hi hwg!Thanks for giving us an idea on how it was processed there in the US. Did you know that it is very hard to get a US Visa here in the PH! lol! :)
anyway, yeah planning will do but what if they do not have a system and you cannot leave the long line because you're afraid that if you do you have to go back to the end of the line again? It's really a lot better now esp if you are aware on how the old process has been, haha!
@tunetzkie (37)
•
5 Apr 11
That is really true! I also applied for a new passport this year only.. and I can say that this is the best government office in our country. The passport processing is very fast you only need to stay in their office in less than an hour because the process is very systematic. After I completed the process I stay longer in their lobby because its cold there and read my newspaper.
2 people like this
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
That is what the other sectors need to implement, being systematic. Other agencies do not even have a number system! You fall in line for hours! While other people who have connections go directly to the govt employee and was processed first!
Yeah, their office was so cold! :) Was there early morning, truly admirable.
@madp_071983 (228)
• Oman
5 Apr 11
A feather added onto the caps of the DFA as a whole! It wont be ages before all government sectors in the Philippines imitate or apply the same system as DFA's. It just needs proper channeling and coordination from the top management to the lower management and eventually to the clients.
Good job done DFA! I hope that this applies to all DFAs throughout the Philippines! =)
2 people like this
@vannyt (343)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
I think they implemented this a year ago or earlier if I'm not mistaken. Yah, finally a systematic way of processing in a government sector. I haven't applied for an appointment but my sister is scheduled at the last week of May, she applied for renewal last March. Appointment scheduling is quite a long wait but as you've said it took you less than an hour to finish something we didn't have in the old system. What's disappointing though is they removed our processing branch here in our place and now we have to go either to Main office or nearest branch which is still 2 hours of travel.
2 people like this
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
Ye, I wish they'll have more satellite offices too. I live far away in the main ofc too, but at least they strictly follow the sched. That's the only drawback, I do not understand why they schedule you after 2 months! Oh, maybe it is because they have lot of pending applications, better than wasting your time though.
@santos_mlirs (271)
• Philippines
7 Apr 11
Yes, i agree with you staria. There are no more long and non-systematic lines but you will have to wait for more than one month or two months to get your passports. It was not like that before. It has a shorter period of waiting time. I just don't know what happened now. Too bad for those who already have flight schedules and really need the passports very badly.
Have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
13 Apr 11
yeah, I wonder how about those who got urgent jobs abroad and need to go out of the country the soonest but fail to secure their passport immediately? They might lose opportunities. I wish that since the system already improve, they will be able to come up w/ quick passport release.
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
13 Apr 11
I really hope that they will be able to maintain this good system and even improve it more. The govt should know that they are public servants and execute it, sometimes it seems that the people are asking favors from them. Some even asked to be paid before doing something that is included in their job scope!
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
It's not their fault that you have to wait for a longer time. The printing is done by the BSP and it has been having some problems lately. Other than that, it would be a breeze getting your passport. Two years ago, I renewed my passport and it was no hassle at all. I made my appointment online (it was very new then so not many people were applying online) and got my appointment the next day. The day of appearance was the day after. And when I went for my appearance, my time going to the DFA took longer than my total time processing the papers. This is compared to the first time I got my passport where we had to queue in a very loooooong line.
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
6 Apr 11
I didnt' know, too, until just recently. My cousin asked me because she was applying for a renewal and the people at DFA (a provincial branch) said the processing would take a longer time because there were problems at BSP. So I researched a little, and true enough, found that it was the BSP printing the passports. I have a theory that since our passports have security features built in them much like our currency, the BSP has been tasked to do the printing.
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
8 Apr 11
Yes, I agree. Making passports should be a breeze but long waiting time is always the problem for many. I remembered when I first got my passport about 20 years ago. I had to be there early in the morning before it's even opened, so that I need not wait too long. However, no matter what, 3-4 hours of waiting is inevitable.
While now, applying and collecting passports is a breeze especially we can do it online and collect it in the post office nearest to us. It's definitely more efficient this way because we need not stand around, plain waiting.
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
13 Apr 11
3-4 hours of waiting is just nerve wrecking. Especially if you just took a leave off your work and you still need to attend to other things. We use to do the same on some govt agencies before, we are already in line even before the agency opens. But gosh, the lack of system is really maddening!
1 person likes this
@macayadann (1235)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
A good image is transferable hoping others will follow the same fast reliable system.
1 person likes this
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
6 Apr 11
thats good.. but i do hope that the the waiting time is more faster..i applied for my sons passport but it takes 2 months to wait..
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
I think before the appearance sched is a lot faster, im not sure what happened. the only info i got is that they do have a lot of pending applications maybe that's why. but at least you do not have to wait for hours, especially that you'll be applying for your kids passport! The kids may be bored and all before you finish (given the old system).I am planning to apply for my kids too and what a relief to know that the process was improved! :)
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
5 Apr 11
Well, I'm glad that it didn't take you a longtime. I will never get a passport as I have not seen all of the USA yet so here I will stay. My Mom goes outside the USA but I will not. I like it here and have yet to see the best of the land here. 
Have to save money for that. You have a wonderful day.
Have to save money for that. You have a wonderful day. 1 person likes this
@staria (2780)
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
True! would love to explore my country first too. The passport though was for work purposes. So that's why.
Did you know that a lot of Filipinos would like to go there because they believe that they may have a good life going there? Well, who would not want that right? US is a very progressive and stable country!
@allinfoyouneed (53)
• Philippines
6 Apr 11
wow! this is great. if that so, den i have to renew my passport now. thanks for the info.
1 person likes this
@mercedlegurpa (955)
• Philippines
6 Apr 11
At least there's one. Congrats. Maybe you applied for a more expensive passport; the one processed by a courier.
1 person likes this
@anna18 (142)
• Philippines
6 Apr 11
i also have the same observation. the staff of the DFA in my area were very organized. had the processing of my passport within 20 to 30 minutes. I think the DFA is one of the best government sector in the Philippines.
Worst sectors are the NSO, NBI, and the SSS.
1 person likes this
