THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has extended its Passport on Wheels (POW) program in Cebu City to give way to more people to have their passports renewed at the SM Seaside.
Cebu City councilor Raymund Alvin Garcia said that initially, the DFA, in its official social media account, announced that it would conduct POWs in Cebu City starting February 4 until 28.
But Garcia received word on Friday, February 1, that the DFA has extended the POW’s services until March 2 as they anticipated that more people will avail of their services.
Garcia said they were informed of the update by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino, who initially asked the DFA last year to bring the POW to Cebu.
Aside from residents from Cebu City, Garcia expected that clients from as far as Bohol and Negros Oriental will be coming to Cebu to avail of the POW’s services, Garcia said.
But even with the extension of POW services in Cebu, operations in DFA’s Cebu office will not be affected since personnel from DFA’s Central Office in Manila will be supervising the renewal of passports, Garcia said.
The POW will be held at the SM Seaside City at the South Road Properties until March 2.
Once in operation, the POW can at least cater to 1,200 passport applicants per day from Monday to Saturday.
New passport applicants are required to submit a confirmed online appointment (COA), personally appear before the POW to submit his or her accomplished application form, original copy of his or her authenticated birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and valid identification cards issued by the government.
For those who want to renew their passports, the requirements are the same to that of new applicants including the current e-Passport, a photocopy of the old passport. The DFA also required those renewing to bring their old passports with them.
For those living in Cebu City and want to apply or renew their passports, they can approach the office of Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Garcia and of City Councilor Joel Garganera for assistance in their application to ensure that their requirements are complete. (FROM PAC OF SUPERBALITA CEBU/ JKV)