DFA Inaugurates 2 Tops in Western Visayas
DFA Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) Assistant Secretary Senen T. Mangalile (center) led the ribbon-cutting ceremony of TOPS Bacolod on April 26, 2022, accompanied by DFA and Robinsons Land Corporation representatives. Also in the photo are from left: Robinsons Regional Operations Manager Ms. Vanessa Angodung, DFA OCA (COCD) Acting Director Marie Cris Chieng, Robinsons Vismin Operations Manager Mr. Richard Sian and Head of DFA Consular Office in Bacolod Mr. Rex Albania. (DFA –OCA photo)
PARAÑAQUE CITY 02 May 2022 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) formally launched two additional Temporary Off-Site Passport Services (TOPS) sites located at Robinsons Place Bacolod and Robinsons Place Iloilo in Western Visayas on April 26 and April 27, respectively, to further address the high demand for passports and to make the service more accessible to Filipinos residing in the Visayas region. This brings the total of the Department’s fully operational TOPS to 19.
The two TOPS were earlier launched on 04 April 2022 and had an average intake of 300 applicants daily, and will only accept simple passport renewal applications, meaning, those who wish to renew their passport “as is”, i.e. without any changes in their passport bio-page and without any complications, may obtain an online appointment at any of these sites. New passport applications and complex applications, such as lost passports and applications requiring change in the name or personal details of the applicant, among others, will not be accommodated. Beginning in May, available appointment slots will be increased up to a maximum of 500 slots daily.
As DFA operations recover from the restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, DFA has partnered with private enterprises, such as the Robinsons Land Corporation, to enable a more convenient and faster delivery of public service. At present, DFA has 10 TOPS operating in various Robinsons Malls in Luzon and Visayas.
The complete list of DFA’s Consular Offices and TOPS sites are available through these links, respectively: https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/transparency/co-directory and https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/transparency/tops-directory.
Those who want to book a passport appointment at any of the Department’s Consular Offices and TOPS sites may visit www.passport.gov.ph. This is the only official website where a passport appointment from any DFA Consular or TOPS site can be obtained.
The Department’s official website does not charge any appointment fee and the DFA strongly cautions the public against transacting with online fixers and appointment setters who are offering their services to secure appointments for a fee. END
DFA-OCA Assistant Secretary Senen T. Mangalile (second from left), with DFA and RLC representatives, formally opened TOPS Iloilo on April 27, 2022. Also in the photo are from left: DFA Head of Consular Office in Iloilo City Ms. Sheila Tu, Robinsons Malls Operations Manager Ms. Karlen Bernabe and DFA OCA (COCD) Acting Director Marie Cris Chieng. (DFA-OCA photo)