Today I got the change to personally have my passport renewed and for the first time here in Metro Manila. I never thought that I could come to this day wherein I will be doing all by myself through a different crowd. That is the reason why at first I was a bit hesitant of of applying for passport renewal here in Manila since I do not want to be inconvenienced at any point.
The time I got my new passport, it was like a breeze. I happen to know a friend in Cebu whose aunt works for DFA and I had all the fastest treatment ever. I was there to personally appear but then it did not even take more than 30 minutes at DFA Cebu. Having this in mind, I thought of not having my passport renewed unless I do it in Cebu where everything could be that fast and there is someone who "knows" me already. But considering that I am off to some place next month and I badly need to have my passport ready earlier, I nevertheless applied for passport renewal here in Manila.
SETTING THE APPOINTMENT
Since its MRP/E-Passport nowadays, I guess everything was like touch and go and so as the appointment system by DFA. I logged in to their website www.passport.com.ph. Setting the appointment was a breeze. Nonetheless due to so many applicant the closest schedule that I could get was October 2nd week but last week I was informed that my scheduled appearance at DFA would be earlier than scheduled which is today. I was happy since I will be able to process my requirements earlier to prepare for any thing that my happen to my trip.
TODAY IS THE DAY
My appointment was scheduled at 8:30am. I woke up at 6am and started compiling my requirements making sure that it is complete. I arrived at DFA Aseana an hour earlier around 7:30am and was able to get things going already. I got in to DFA presenting my appointment notice to the guard who pointed the area for the 8:00am applicants then I sat on the area for my group applicants. About 30 minutes later we were ushered to a verification table to confirm our appointment once we were confirmed that we have an appointment. We went inside the main building already to wait for the processing officers to check our requirements. Processing of documents opened at around 8:30am, the windows opened with just some officers to check the requirements of both new and renewing passport applicants. It took me another hour or so in the queue for my documents to be checked and verified. After verification, off I go to the 2nd floor to pay for processing fee of Php 1,200.00 (rush processing for 10 working days, 950 for regular processing of 20 working days). Then I was given a number for the counter which will take my picture and will update my profile. I was given No. 1404 and the number was still 1100. I had to wait and seeing that the booths that are processing are not yet all opened I went out to grab a breakfast and coffee. When I returned around 10:30, the number is quite near already and so I waited. Then came my turn they just verified the details and took me a picture, thumb print, etc. Once ok, sign the details and the voila! the process is alsmost done. Around 11am, I piled in the queue of those who wanted to have their passports delivered to their addresses, it cost another Php 120.00 but then it saves you time from going back to DFA to claim the new passport. It seems like it took me almost 3 and a half hours to go through the whole process.
WHAT I NOTICED
I must say that the system DFA implemented was quite commendable from the appointment system to the way the processing at DFA Aseana was handled though there are still some things that I find still quite alarming maybe because of the procedures or maybe because of what we are Filipinos. Here are some:
Time is of the essence. Document evaluation windows and so as the data capturing booths opened with just few staff and yet the number of people is already increasing. And also for other applicants who keep complaining because they cannot still be accommodated that is because it is not still their turn yet, come on, I must admit that we all want to finish as early as I had in my mind also but give yourself leeway to be inconvenienced since their is a large number of people applying. BE PATIENT. WAIT FOR YOUR TURN. YOU WILL HAVE YOUR TURN. Also prepare all necessary documents, is possible before leaving home all documents are all in a folder with all the forms filled up properly. Sometimes it takes time when you are at windows already and still there you are filling in the information in the forms. There are still some special treatments though - come on stop that in government agencies! And most importantly I would like to reiterate that prepare to be INCONVENIENCED (if this can be even such a word).
Overall, I'd give this experience an 8 out of 10. :)
