I was at the new DFA building this morning for my 11am appointment for my passport renewal. I bring with me the filled up application form printed from their website www.passport.com.ph/print. Take note: That you can only print this application form after you call them at this number 737-1000 and ask for appointment. They will ask you for the details of your application and give you the reference number and time and advise you to print the form through their website which is stated above. Make sure that you put the /print there and follow the instructions. Before the website take you to your application form it gives you information and checklist of the necessary documents that you should bring before visiting their office at your appointed time. Make sure you take note all those requirements and have it with you so you will not forget anything. I followed all those steps and check my documents all the time to make sure I'm all good for today and it resulted well cause everything went pretty fine and quick when I arrive there.Although I was struggling with my travel; Took a jeepney from home (Taytay), LRT2 santolan(marikina) to recto and LRT1 Doroteo Jose - EDSA. It was quarter to eleven when I arrived at EDSA station so I have no choice but to get a taxi (make sure you wont get a taxi who's parking down the station they charge too much, believe me I paid too much ;) have no time to keep walking or haggle) to arrive there on time. If you have plenty of time and is not in a hurry like me, you can take an orange cab with a signage Mall of Asia and/or NEW DFA, no need to walk further because they are just around the LRT station.
When I arrived at their new building I asked the guard roving outside for the the entrance of the 11am appointee and he showed me the way to gate 2. I get my bag check and go to the table right after the entrance to verify my appointment then proceed to Step 1 - Processing Area. There are seats inside just ask where is the last lane. When you arrive at the window present your application form along with your requirements and original passport if you are on a renewal; original birth certificate and nbi for the new applicants. Another reminders: Print the application form in a long bond paper, and do not sign it , you will be ask to sign it in front of the DFA personnel after you present your documents. The DFA personnel will ask you if it is a regular or express processing, the payment for express is Php 1,200.00 and Php950.00 for regular. I have mine on express since I need it ASAP. When I'm done at the step 1 window I proceed to step 2 - payment and encoding at the second floor (right side) and paid Php1,200.00 at the cashier and ask for a number on the table near counter 23. My number was 2516 and the number that they are currently serving that time are around 2105 to 2110 (seems like it will be a long waiting isn't it?). I looked for a vacant seat and have some retouched. I have a good news! they are pretty fast now, it didn't take me too long to wait. When my number was displayed on the screen I then proceed to my designated counter which is 42, I submitted my documents to the lady whom I found sarcastic while she was entertaining the guy before me, she asked me to signed, faced at the camera and check the details encoded in their system if everything is correct. After that she printed it and asked me to sign again, that's it! after i signed the papers I asked her where is the delivery counter (I have mine delivered since I have work and cannot come back, Php120.00 for the delivery fee) and another good news she was being helpful, so I then found her sarcastic but helpful.
In conclusion, I was really happy with their new system it makes us filipinos proud that some government agencies are improving. Though at the very first step there is a big sign there saying.."we serve with a smile" even the counters have it, but from step 1 until the very last step including the delivery counters I never or should I say we never (since I heard most people talking about it there) seen anyone serving with a smile. I understand that their job was never easy and that applicants can be irritating sometimes but if they cannot do it they should have not put the sign in there. It humiliates their own. That's the only problem I've seen in the department so far, and I must say even if they were not smiling they're still helpful enough. I just wish them to get rid of the "we serve with a smile" sign and replace it with something real, something that they can manage.
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