126 avail of DFA-Tabuk gov’t passport program

By Gigi Dumallig

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- One hundred twenty six individuals recently received their passports after the city government here helped facilitate their application at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

City Public Employment Service Officer LoydaSaboy said DFA Tuguegarao office recently delivered the passports..

Passport processing, she said usually takes months before it is released.

According to Saboy, the original plan was to invite the DFA National Office for a mobile passport activity last November, but was re-scheduled because the required 500 applicants were not met.

She said that since their announcement last August, more than 400 individuals manifested their interest to avail of the program.

However, since the mobile passport machines were already booked until January, the city government through the full support of City Mayor Ferdinand Tubban opted to ferry the applicants to DFA Tuguegarao to avail said passport application and renewal service, with the city government hiring at least three buses for the activity. Meals and snacks she said were also provided for.

According to Saboy, out of 221 who availed, only 126 were able to submit all the required documents for their application. Priority she said were also given to those needing passports immediately like newly hired Overseas Filipino Workers.

Said program of the city government was conceptualized a few years ago to facilitate the speedy and easier passport application processes to help especially OFWs from Tabuk as well as those coming from the other municipalities of Kalinga and nearby provinces.

She said that by bringing said DFA service in the province, applicants would be spared from spending much time and money for the trips they have to take just to process their passports.

The city government is planning to hold another mobile passport service by February or May next year. Applicants she said are invited to come to the City PESO to inquire for the requirements.

In certain cases such as applicants for minor and others, there are some documents that are being required by the DFA which the applicants should know to facilitate their applications.

“It is required that before they avail of the mobile passport services, all documents should be in placed to avoid delaying the process,” she said.