Overseas Filipino Workers will soon have an easier way to renew their passports through the online appointment system.
Those Filipinos in Singapore and Hong Kong can now renew their passport through the online appointment system instead of going to the Philippine Consular office. The system is expected to become ready by 2019.
“Most of us only have one day off and we are so lucky that we have this online appointment system. Hopefully at the latest, the first quarter of next year,” says Vice Consul Fatima G. Quintin.
“Once this gets approved, applicants will not have to waste their hard-earned day off just to fall in line to get an appointment,” says Quintin.
To maximize the convenience of the Filipino workers, Quintin wanted the Department of Foreign Affairs to create a smartphone app to have the online passport appointment since not all OFWs have a personal computer.
“We will be requesting a mobile app for the passport appointment,” says Quintin.
The staff of the DFA is set to visit the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong for the implementation of the system. Quintin further reminded that Filipinos can already renew their passports a year before the expiration.
“Passports that will expire a year before will be allowed, especially those who will renew their contract,” she added.
Now, passports will be released within 6 weeks from the previous two months.
