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| DFA has temporarily closed its passport office in Manila amid the Covid-19 outbreak |
Filipinos who are scheduled to pick up their new passports
in the coming days should expect a delay in the delivery of the travel
documents, the Consulate said.
The PCG said this is due to the indefinite suspension of all
consular operations and passport services by the Department of Foreign Affairs
in Manila to comply with the enhanced community
quarantine in Luzon to help check the spread
of novel coronavirus.
“Due to this scenario, delays in passport deliveries to Hong Kong may be expected,” the Consulate said in an
advisory issued Mar 18.
But the PCG assured affected applicants it will extend
necessary assistance to them.
Community members who are scheduled to pick up their
passports in the next few days have expressed surprise at the announcement.
“How about for pick up this coming Sunday, ok po ba?” posted
one worker in the comment section of the Consulate’s Facebook page.
The question was echoed by several other applicants who are with
pick-up schedules in the coming two weeks.
A staff from the Consulate advised them to verify the status
of their passports at epass.app@gmail.com or call 2823 8508.
Others who commented on the advisory complained about their
unsuccessful attempt to book passport appointments online.
JieAnne
Soliman complained she booked online for her renewal of her
passport, which will expire on Aug 3, but has not received a reply.
Another said she had tried several times to book but
received only an “error” warning. “Kaya mag-walk in na lang ako sa Sunday,” she
said.
Walking into the Consulate may prove a hassle, however, as hundreds
of people line up for services during the shortened work hours on Sundays
due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At least one Filipina who is scheduled to travel abroad in
the next few days has a bigger problem. She somehow damaged her passport, and
now needs a replacement document immediately so she could fly out.
Told that she could ask for a one-way travel document, she
immediately said she’d go to the Consulate to make the application, but later
realized it would be closed for the next two days, in line with standard
practice.
On top of this, she faces a problem of when she can secure a
new one, after the DFA’s decision to close down its passport office in Manila in compliance with the community quarantine for Luzon .
After calling the Consulate's assistance to nationals section, she was told to report to them on Monday, Mar 23, to apply for a temporary document, and weigh her options for securing a new passport.
After calling the Consulate's assistance to nationals section, she was told to report to them on Monday, Mar 23, to apply for a temporary document, and weigh her options for securing a new passport.
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