Our "To Do List" (Excel file) identifies and tracks more than boat related work issues, we also track the expiration dates of all our document related items - passports, driver licenses, IDs, registrations, bank/credit cards, immunizations, etc. One of the items on our To Do list was the renewal of both Marilyn's and Mary Ann's Filipino passports. It is highly recommended that passports be renewed six months prior to their expiration as many countries will not allow entry if your passport expires "soon". As both Marilyn's and Mary Ann's Filipino current passports expire May 2019, it was time to go through the process to obtain new Filipino passports.
First reviewed the new requirements on the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website which had changed since the last time we did this. They had implemented an online system to fill out the passport information which includes a scheduled appointment date, but only after you prepay the required fees. Basically the requirements for adult or minor passport renewal were: Accomplished Application Form Online, Confirmed Appointment Online, Personal Appearance, and Provide Current ePassport with photocopy of data page - they had exceptions which applied for dual citizenship holders - provide Report of Birth Aboard and Identification Certificate of Reacquisition of Filipino Citizenship - these applied to us.
Next did a general search on the internet to find out the experiences of others that had already experienced this new improved streamlined process. Many complained that it was nearly impossible to get a appointment as the available appoints were always booked solid, others complained their existing documents issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) of the Philippines were no longer accepted as the NSO was recently replaced by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), others complained that they were required to present documents that were not listed as required for passport renewal. Our previous passport renewal experience, four years ago, was a travesty in governmental bureaucracy as we had significant problems with the DFA personnel as they created new and invalid requirements beyond those stipulated in the law - it appeared the same mentality still existed even though the process was touted as "streamlined". This meant you really needed recent official copies of ALL documents for initial passport application or you most likely would have problems requiring more than one trip to the DFA - been there - done that - last time.
Based on the problems others had reported with NSO issued documents not being accepted, we decided to get new PSA issued birth and marriage certificates; even though we already had valid NSO ones. Ordered new birth and marriage certificates on the PSA Serbilis website by filling out simple online forms (16 December 2018). After filling them out, almost immediately received three emails with payment instructions.
We opted to pay for these documents at a 7-Eleven in Naga City which is close by. Took a tricycle there and back (100 pesos), entered the reference number and payee information into the terminal in the store which generated a payment stub, that we then paid in cash at the counter - total cost was 2,190 pesos.
Next went online to the DFA's Passport Appointment System website. To start the online appointment we selected the DFA Cebu office and a calendar appeared which showed no available dates for the next three months - December, January, and February. The website advised to check back regularly as appointments might become available. After checking multiple of times for available appointments at DFA Cebu for two days, no openings were discovered. Checked for openings at DFA Dumaguete and initially there were none, but on a recheck (18 December 2018) found an appointment available for Saturday, 29 December 2018. With the available appoint date selected, the website advanced and displayed an entry form page to gather the required information. Filled in the information successfully and website then advised we had 24 hours to submit payment, otherwise the appointment would be cancelled. We received an email confirming appointment request and payment instructions.
We again opted to pay for these documents at a 7-Eleven in Naga City. Took a tricycle there and back (100 pesos), entered the reference number and payee information into the terminal in the store which generated a payment stub, that we then paid in cash at the counter - total cost was 2,500 pesos.
Within an hour received emails that confirmed the appointment and included a PDF file containing instructions, the filled-in passport application form, and two pages of receipts that needed to be printed out.
On 20 December 2018, received the "new" PSA issued birth and marriage certificates delivered to our house by 2GO Courier Service - four days to delivery from date of order is pretty darn fast and efficient.
Early in the morning on 29 December 2018, we left Naga City, Cebu headed to the DFA Regional Consular Office, 2F Robinson's Place South Road, Calidangan, Dumaguete City, Negros. The drive was pretty uneventful as we had traveled this way many times before. Only in Oslob did we encounter extreme congestion as numerous tourist vans blocked the roadways, we suspected this was due to the presence of whale sharks in the ocean waters nearby, the main tourist attraction there.
We took the MAAYO Shipping, Inc. RoRo (Roll-on - roll-off) ferry to Negros Island. Cost was 800 pesos for the truck with two passengers, 70 pesos for one extra passenger, and 20 pesos terminal fee. The ferry conductor asked us if we intended to return to Cebu the same day and if we wanted to pay for the return trip now - we declined this offer which was a mistake. We discovered later that purchasing a round trip ticket is 400 pesos cheaper than buying one way tickets.
We arrived at Robinsons Mall in Dumaguete City, Negros around 10:30, our scheduled DFA appointment time was 16:00, so we cruised the mall and ate lunch. Around 13:00 we received a cell phone text message from DFA stating they were to close early at 4pm and for us to come in early for our appointment. We immediately headed up to the second floor of the mall to the DFA location.
The onsite security personnel stated they only allowed passport applicants inside, so I was initially refused entrance with Marilyn and Mary Ann. They were first screened by a DFA lady at the front desk to ensure they had all the required paperwork that I had compiled and stuffed in a large envelope. To expedite matters, the DFA lady at the front desk waived me in past the security guards to sort out the paperwork. I asked the lady if she wanted NSO or PSA issued documents and she responded back as if I was ignorant, only PSA issued documents are acceptable - thankfully I was ready for this. I separated the papers into two stacks - one for Marilyn and one for Mary Ann. The piles included ALL the specified requirements as stipulated on DFA's website. The lady next arranged the papers into an order of her choosing and asked for Marilyn's birth and marriage certificate. I stated to her that they are not required per DFA's instructions for passport renewal and offered to show her the printed DFA requirements I had with me. From the glare on her face, I could tell she was not a happy camper, so instead of pushing the point, I reached into the envelope and produced the PSA issued birth and marriage certificate, she seemed a bit relieved but still irritated. As she sorted Mary Ann's paper work, she asked for another copy of Marilyn's passport front page and another marriage certificate. Again I stated this was not required as it was not stipulated by DFA's requirements - at the same time as I handed her what she asked for - I think she does like being informed of DFA requirements. She stapled and stamped the two piles of paper, gave them a call number, and allowed them to proceed inside - she told me I could leave and wait outside. Marilyn and Mary Ann went to a window where a guy reviewed the paperwork and kept them, then they went to another window to fill out a shipping form and pay for the passport delivery - 600 pesos for both; lastly they had their pictures and bio-stuff recorded. The shipping folks stated passports would be delivered in four work days - so expect delivery in the coming week. They were inside for a little over a hour and half.
We left the Robinsons Mall in Dumaguete City and drove to the ferry terminal. Once there, we drove right on the ferry, and paid the same fees as earlier to the same ferry conductor - cost was 800 pesos for truck with two passengers, 70 pesos for one extra passenger, and 20 pesos terminal fee. The ferry conductor seem disappointed at us, as we did not heed his earlier advice and buy a round trip ticket - saving us 400 pesos - he was right.
We departed the ferry and drove back to Naga City the same way we had come. Extreme, stand-still congestion, was encountered in Carcar as we wasted almost two hours due to one side of the road being closed for construction.
On the evening of 15 January 2019, LBC couriers delivered the new passports - 17 days after submission.
Summary:
The revised Filipino passport system is far better than what we experienced five years earlier - also the adult passport validity changed from 5 to 10 years. The appointment system is the main problem with this system as we could not obtain an appointment at DFA Cebu - we checked it again recently and again found no available appointments for a three month time span. DFA managers should be aware of this problem and act proactively and solve this - but this is not how things are done here.
The requirement for a passport applicant to provide government issued official documents to another government agency is flat out lazy and inefficient. This stupidity is compounded when a Reacquisition of Filipino Citizenship Certificate must be provided, as it must be requested from DFA and then submitted back to the same government agency DFA. It is beyond comprehension on a passport renewal that the same documents for initial passport application must be submitted again. This initially appears as a way to add revenue to government coffers at the expense of its citizens. It will be miraculous when technology can be developed to allow these government folks access to an online system to verify what is already collected by the government - oh wait, that simple technology already exists - this is not a technology problem but a management one. It is a travesty that this has not been implemented yet as there are a abundance of very smart and savvy Filipino programmers that are capable and can easily implement this - management and leadership are the root problem in this case.
Seems that others have complained about DFA document requirement irregularities resulting in: DFA Department Order No. 03-2019, "DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RENEWAL OF REGULAR PASSPORTSs, Section 1. The presentation of birth certificate in the application for the renewal of passport shall not be required." What is disappointing about this Order is the existing written requirements do not require a birth certificate in the application for the renewal of passport - this Order should be amended to mandate DFA employees follow the current mandated lawful requirements instead of what they have done in the past, or dreamed up and levied on citizen applicants.
The cost of a Filipino passport is listed as 1,200 pesos (US $23.53) or 2,400 (US $47.06) for two for both Marilyn and Mary Ann. The actual cost comes out higher for both passports at about 7,670 pesos (US $150.40) in our situation: documents - 2,190 pesos plus 100 pesos for tricycle; passport fee - 2,400 pesos plus 100 pesos convenience fee plus 100 pesos for tricycle; delivery fee for two passports - 600 pesos; ferry fees round trip - 1, 780 pesos; and diesel for truck ~400 pesos. This does not include our time or meals. To put this in perspective, the average Filipino wage is 3-400 pesos a day - so to obtain a passport is a very expensive expenditure.
Lastly the Filipino passport delivery from submission to receipt of 17 days is actually pretty good. In comparison, my US passport renewal, that I'm still waiting to receive, has a projected delivery of 4 to 6 weeks - maybe the US system could learn something from the Filipino system.
