DFA waives authentication requirement on documents

Authentication process of documents from various government agencies, especially those needed for overseas job applications, has become fast and easy, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday. Beginning April 2, the DFA Office of Consular Affairs would no longer require certificates from the Malacanang Authentication Office to begin authenticating documents needed for overseas job applications, working visas and other legal purposes. DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Domingo Lucenario said the simplified procedure could save time and money for the public. “Before, applicants had to pay P80 for Malacanang certification and another P100 for DFA authentication, or a total of P180. With the new system, they no longer have to pay for the Malacanang certification," Lucenario said. Now, government agencies concerned will transmit directly to the DFA all the documents that need authentication. Government agencies doing direct transmittal are the Air Transportation Office, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Plant Industry, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Land Transportation Office, National Bureau of Investigation, Professional Regulations Commission, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Regional Trial Courts. “Applicants for the authentication of documents from these agencies do not need to go to the DFA twice as they will only have to wait for the release of their documents after paying the authentication fee," Lucenario said. “It’s less (income) for the government, but more for the public we serve," he said. However, applicants need to hand deliver for authentication by the DFA documents coming from the National Statistics Office. In the old system, authentication process takes three to four days and over three thousand documents are processed by the DFA daily. Lucenario said the DFA gives to applicants claim stubs indicating the date of release of authenticated documents. - GMANews.TV