PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The speedy process of passport issuance for Palaweños is considered a milestone for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in marking the 15th year of its Regional Consular Office (RCO) in Puerto Princesa.

Regional Consular Head Carolina Constantino said that the online appointment helped to not just fast-track the transaction but also remove irregularities.

“Before without the online, anything can happen. Now, we have cut the line, dati noong walang online, ang haba ng pila. There’s so much happening in the line. But now that it's online appointment, it’s very convenient and accurate for applicants,” she said.

Citing RCO Puerto Princesa's data from January to June, 72 percent of passport applicants, equivalent to 4,967 individuals, intended to use their passports for travel purposes. Around 25 percent of the applicants were recorded for work purposes.

The RCO started to operate in 2008 and showed an upward trend in applications, except at the height of the pandemic in 2020. To bring the development of passport appointments closer, RCO also had a Technology for Economic Development (Tech4ED) Center in the towns of Palawan.

“Now we are asking the municipality to use the computers provided by ICT to help applicants make online appointments. Kasi ‘yong iba hindi nila alam paano gawin ‘yon, ang iba ay walang computer. They go to the municipality, the office of the mayor in particular, and that’s where they learn how to make an online appointment,” she said.

Constantino also sees significant progress in having apostille services at its Puerto Princesa Consular Office. If decisions remain, the RCO Puerto Princesa might be one of the seven sites that will be given priority to have apostille services.

Apostille is explained as a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document.

One of the critical considerations would be having additional personnel, up to six, to handle the apostille and wider space. The office is now renting a space at Robinsons Place Palawan.

Constantino, who has been with DFA for over four decades, is set to retire in November.

She believes that her successor, Liza Jane Estalilla, is committed to pushing through the authentication services at the RCO. It would be the second time for Estalilla to hold the regional consular head post in Puerto Princesa.

“That would be among her priorities, to ensure that there will be necessary implements. To personnel, resources, as well as the space needed to carry out the apostille,” she said.

The city government of Puerto Princesa and the provincial government of Palawan both recognized the development in passport issuance during the anniversary celebration on Thursday, October 19. The presence of a consular office played a vital role in linking Palawan with the world, Governor Victorino Dennis Socrates said in a message.

“DFA Puerto Princesa has become a supportive partner of the provincial government of Palawan in advancing its shared goals of promoting Philippine interests in the global community and enhancing international awareness of Philippine culture to foster mutually beneficial relations with other nations.” (RG/PIA Mimaropa - Palawan)