DFA passport ePayment launched
The Department of Foreign Affairs recently launched its passport ePayment portal to help increase its capacity to receive and process passport applications.
The ePayment portal requires passport applicants to prepay the processing fees through selected payment centers and, eventually, through debit and credit cards and through over-the-counter cash transactions in select banks.
“Not only will this new payment system be convenient since applicants can pay the fees anywhere, anytime; it will also help us maximize the capacity of our consular offices,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said.
According to the Secretary, only 60 to 65 percent of applicants appear at DFA consular offices on their date of appointment under the old system.
“With ePayment, we expect that no-shows in our consular offices will be significantly reduced, if not totally eliminated. By prepaying, applicants are encouraged to show up lest they forfeit their passport processing fee,” Cayetano said.
The Secretary noted that ePayment tests at DFA Aseana in Parañaque City posted a show-up rate of 94 to 97 percent compared to the current 60 to 65 percent.
“With near 100 percent show-up rates and quicker turnaround of applicants at our consular offices, the DFA through ePayment will be able to serve more applicants daily, particularly those who need it the most,” Cayetano said.