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July 16, 2010
MANILA – Close to 6,000 passport applicants received regular attention and services on Wednesday, July 14, from the Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs, despite widespread electrical failure in most of Metro Manila and the inclement weather due to typhoon “Basyang.” OCA Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor B. Ledda said his section honored all application appointments for July 14 and worked from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., not wavering in its services despite the major typhoon that practically brought Manila to a standstill and forced many offices to close for the day Meanwhile, Ledda said that passport applicants who failed to make it to their July 14 appointment will be accommodated in the following days from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Also on Wednesday, “OFWs, the elderly, the disabled, and families with children were given the courtesy lane, expediting their applications to less than an hour. “Apparently, they were happy and gave positive testimonials,” according to Ledda. OCA has instituted an appointment system at its new facility in ASEAN Business Park, in Paranaque City that provides passports services daily to over 4,000 passport applicants.