Online passport appointments eyed for Filipinos in HK

Vice Consul Fatima G. Quintin

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is set to introduce next year its online passport appointments system for Filipinos in Hong Kong and Singapore, Vice Consul Fatima G. Quintin said.

Quintin said that, once the system is in place, Filipinos in Hong Kong would no longer need to go to the consulate just to set an appointment to get a new passport.

“Ang karamihan po sa atin ang day-off ay one day lang kaya masuwerte tayo dahil sa atin iintroduce yung online appointment system. Hopefully at the latest, first quarter of next year,” Quintin said during Filipino community meeting on November 11 at the Philippine Consulate General in Admiralty.

“Kapag naayos na ito, hindi na kailangan pumunta dito at i-waste yung hard-earned day-off ninyo para pumila lamang for an appointment,” she added.

Quintin said they also asked the DFA to develop a phone app for the online passport appointments system because many overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong do not have personal computers.

“Kaya nagrequest kami specifically kung pwede gawing app na lamang ang passport appointment,” she said.

Quintin added that a DFA team was set to visit the PCG this month in preparation for the implementation of the project.

Quintin also reminded Filipinos that they can already renew their passport one year before it expiry date.

“Yung one year before pinapayagan na, alalo na kung magrerenew ng kontrata,” she said.

Quintin added that new passports are now released in just six weeks unlike before when applicants had to wait for two months.

“Ang passport releasing ay mas mabilis na ngayon from two months ay, since July, six weeks na lang. So, nakatipid tayo at ngayon ay two weeks faster,” she said.