Locsin stops passport appointment allocations for recruiters, allows walk-in for OFWs

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has ordered the stop to the allocation of passport appointment slots to recruitment agencies.

Locsin issued the order after several individuals and groups were found to be selling passport appointment slots online.

He said the order would not affect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as they would be allowed to walk in for passport processing starting March 14 even without appointments.

“Recruiters will no longer be given passport slots. They will have to go online like everyone else. This won't affect OFWs," Locsin said on Twitter.

"From March 14, OFWs will be able to walk-in w supporting docs. This should make passport appointments easier and as it should be, absolutely free for all,” he added.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido "Dodo" Dulay said the DFA in Aseana, Parañaque would allow walk-in applications by OFWs provided that they have the required documents.

Dulay earlier asked Facebook to take down pages of individuals and groups selling passport appointment slots online.

He also asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime units to investigate and apprehend the individuals. —NB, GMA News