Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) briefed on 7 August 2018 the Philippine Consulate General, led by Consul General Antonio A. Morales, on immediate plans to improve passport services abroad.

The DFA-PCOO team was led by Acting Passport Director Ricarte B. Abejuela III Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) and Michael J. Dalumpines, Chairman and Acting CEO of the PCOO’s APO Production Unit, Inc. (APO). They were accompanied by DFA Principal Assistant Mina Ganzon, and APO officials Norbell R. Domingo and David Adis.

Included in the pilot project to be implemented in Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul is the installation of speedier and more secure passport appointment, biometric data capturing and alternative payment systems.

Consul General Morales fully welcomed the proposal in order to provide better and faster passport services, and expressed his commitment to implement the necessary procedures as soon as possible for the benefit of more than 226,000 Filipinos in the Territory, most of whom are OFWs.

The Consulate also presented its passport service procedures, and brainstormed with the OCA-APO team on how to fully integrate and tailor-fit the proposed passport system upgrade vis-à-vis the needs of Filipinos in Hong Kong.