DFA seeks additional fund to address passport backlog
THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has asked Congress to consider an additional P53.37-million fund to address the backlog on up to four million passport applications.
The department proposed a P21.051-billion budget for 2022 during the hearing at the House of Representatives Tuesday, 5.43% lower than the P22.26-billion allocation this year.
DFA Assistant Secretary Myla Grace R. Macahilig asked the House to consider including some items in the proposed 2022 budget that was removed by the executive department as the agency originally proposed a P39.08-billion allocation for next year.
Funding for the establishment of temporary off-site passport service sites were among the funds that DFA asked Congress to consider inserting to the proposed 2022 budget.
This comes after Marino Party-list Rep. Macnell M. Lusotan asked DFA officials on plans regarding backlogs on the issuance and renewals of passports after DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. revealed that there was a backlog of three to four million passport applications.
“That’s in part because there is a flood of applicants, but it’s also due to venue capacity limitations brought about by lockdowns. We opened new consular offices, but there are no funds to continue their operations. We have to open more temporary offsite sites. While the rent is free, setting up costs money,” Mr. Locsin said.
DFA Undersecretary Brigido D. Dulay said that Mr. Locsin ordered the agency to put up an additional 10 to 20 temporary off-site passport processing sites to address the backlog.
VFA
Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc, meanwhile, asked what the changes are in the terms and conditions of the revised Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States after President Rodrigo R. Duterte recalled the abrogation of the military deal last July.
Mr. Locsin said it was mainly “clarifications of procedures” in the agreement’s implementation such as the handling of criminal jurisdictions in cases involving American military personnel, and transmittal of notification and communications through diplomatic channels, among others.
Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas said that the updated provisions would need to undergo ratification by Congress.
She also said in a separate statement on Tuesday that the modifications should be scrutinized to ensure that it does not prompt more cases of violence perpetuated by US soldiers. — Russell Louis C. Ku
