Renewing your passport @ the new DFA OCA building

I went through the normal process of renewing my passport,  for that new MRP and it took a good part of the day. 

Started the process by logging online (www.passport.com.ph) and filling in the application form at the same time confirming an appointment  that was system generated. I was given 1:30 pm for 9th Aug 2010. A good two and half weeks from the time I went online. No worries, travel wasn’t expected till end of Sep or middle of Oct.

So it was, as provided by the guidelines on www.dfa.gov.ph - At exactly 1:00 PM, I was entering the brand new,  Office of Consular Affairs building on Macapagal Avenue. They had strict warnings onsite that DFA would not let anyone in until, 30 mins before their appointed  time. So, it was a big surpirse when I entered the (air-conditioned) area and the huge hall was FULL of people, more suprised that the guy behind me in the musical-chairs line was sked for 3PM! And the guy after him - even later.  One had to sit, stand and move along to the next bank of benches, whenever the guard called more applicants to the window. This was just Step 1:  The verification phase. To ensure that one had all the proper documents and it was the same clerk who cancelled your current passport, after verifying whether you wanted to pay 950 or 1200 pesos. The difference being the 20 or 10 working day wait for your new passport!  Btw, they did return the photo copies of pages 2, 3 and your latest entry/exit pages. No longer needed said the clerk, despite it being clearly indicated as the pages that were needed on the website. (calling DFA web admin - pls. update! ) So just make sure; all you need are copies of the front and last pages of your current passport. You save a few bucks and more important - you save a few trees as well. (Do note:  this is for a renewal of the green passport. There are other documents needed for new applicants and for those that had lost their passports). Thankfully,  there were two TV monitors that was showing some Manny Pacquiao fights and kept us all entertained, until we had to get up and move again to the next bench! 

Then it was off to Step 2 - Payment at the cashier on the 2nd floor. This wasn’t too long a wait. Around 20-30 minutes. They also had the representatives of the courier service peddling the home or office delivery of your passport. For an additonal 120 peso fee. Nationwide - ONE day delivery was their committed sales pitch.

It was Step 3 - the “enrollment” process that was the killer. I’m only guessing, that the reason it took me around 2.5 hours to go through this step was the sheer volume of applicants they were processing. Numbers were being issued -  But, I was 2743 and they were just calling 2340!!!  It was taking so long before being called, I actually had time to exit the buidling, have a bite to eat at the nearby  S & R grocery (good pizzas btw) stroll around, (the DFA bldg was getting a bit too cold) return,  and still waited for another 30-45 mins before being called.

Then it was a simple chat with the DFA person for data verification, picture taking and biometrics. Then it was done!

And in 10 working days time, I shall be the proud owner of that new Filipino passport. Will border patrol and immigration officers treat us differently now that this is a world class, (harder to fake) travel document?? I certainly hope so!