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MANILA, Philippines?Filipinos in the provinces need not go to Manila to get a passport as passport services are available in the 18 regional consular offices nationwide, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.
In a news release, the DFA said seven such offices in the cities of Butuan, Bacolod, Batangas, Baguio, Puerto Princesa, General Santos, and Cotabato were opened in the last two years.
The other regional consular offices are in the cities of San Fernando in La Union, Tuguegarao, San Fernando in Pampanga, Lucena, Legaspi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, and Davao.
Filipinos ?only have to go to the DFA regional office nearest to them and avail of the same fast and efficient services,? Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said.
?We are also bringing consular services closer to our Filipino people through the fielding of mobile passport services, which are regularly being undertaken in cities and municipalities around the country and Metro Manila,? he added.
In the last two months alone, January to February 2010, the DFA Office of Consular Affairs conducted 34 mobile passport services which served around 14,000 passport applicants throughout the Philippines.
The DFA recently opened to the public the new Consular building located in Bradco and Macapagal Avenues in Aseana Business Park, near the Mall of Asia. The new facility is the home of the ePassport, electronic authentication system, electronic visa system, and digitalized consular records system.
Meanwhile, the DFA reminds passport applicants to avail of the appointment system to ensure quick and comfortable service. Applicants can check the passport requirements and secure an appointment by logging in at passport website or calling hotline (02) 737-1000. They may also call the DFA helplines at telephone numbers (02) 831-8971, (02) 551-4437, (02) 551-4402, (02) 834-4855 and (02) 834-4424.
Applicants are no longer required to bring photographs since they will have their pictures taken using ePassport data-capturing machines.
Only those with confirmed appointments will be accommodated at the new facility. No escorts are allowed to accompany the applicants inside the premises at this time.
