The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has reminded the public to secure passport appointments only through its official website, and stressed it it does not use social media platforms for passport applications.
In an advisory, the DFA said it does not authorize any company or individual to offer and accept passport appointment scheduling on its behalf.
“Those who engage the services of such unauthorized private entities or individuals using social media accounts and networks run the risk of not getting an authentic appointment or issues with their passport application, aside from incurring additional expenses,” it said.
The DFA said the public is strongly advised to ignore offers from such entities or individuals and “to use only the official passport appointment system maintained by the DFA.”
Applicants may visit the agency’s official appointment system at www.passport.gov.ph/appointment.
It further advised that senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), persons with disabilities, and other qualified individuals may set their appointment using the courtesy lane facility by sending an email to oca.cl@dfa.gov.ph or to the email address of the nearest Consular Office (CO).
Given the different community quarantine classifications in some areas where DFA consular offices are located, the agency advised the public to monitor its latest advisories, including those of their respective local government units before setting an appointment.