No FB, socmed for passport appointments: DFA

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday reminded the public to secure a passport appointment only through its official website, saying it does not use Facebook or other social media network for passport applications.

In an advisory, the DFA added that it does not authorize any company or individual to offer and accept passport appointment scheduling on its behalf.

“Those who engage the services of these unauthorized private entities or individuals using social media accounts and networks run the risk of not getting an authentic appointment or issues with their passport application, aside from incurring additional expenses,” it said.

“The public is strongly advised to ignore offers from these companies or individuals and to use only the official passport appointment system maintained by the DFA,” it added.

Applicants may visit the agency’s official appointment system at www.passport.gov.ph/appointment.

Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and other qualified individuals may set their appointment using the courtesy lane facility by sending an email to oca.cl@dfa.gov.ph or to the email address of the nearest Consular Office (CO).

Given the different community quarantine classifications in some areas with a DFA consular office, the agency advised the public to monitor its latest advisories, including those of their respective local government units before setting an appointment.