Passport slots from July onward have not been opened due to system enhancement —DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday announced that slots for passport appointment starting July this year are not yet opened due to planned "enhancement" in the system.

In an advisory sent to reporters, the DFA said "passport online appointment slots from July 2018 onward have not been opened" to give way for the preparations for the electronic payment o ePayment system.

Slots for May to June, however, remained open, the DFA said.

The electronic payment or ePayment system is expected to hasten transactions, minimize the number of no-show applicants, and open more online appointment slots by allowing applicants to pay at a payment facility of their choice.

Pilot testing of ePayment is ongoing and will be opened for the remaining months of the year once it is launched. 

The new system will allow passport applicants to pay in advance.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano announced the epayment scheme in December last year, touting it as one of the efforts by the department to make passport application easier for the public.

Cayetano said advance payment should discourage the high percentage of no-shows. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News