PH mobile outreach processes 696 passports

Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian

The Philippine Consulate General in Guam amazed themselves and the public by doubling the number of passports that they usually process during their stay on Saipan.

The consulate general held a five-day mobile outreach last week at the DHL office on Middle Road for the renewal of e-passports and they managed to process 696 passports in all.

This is on top of 10 affidavits, two travel documents, nine reports of birth, four reports of marriage, and extending the validity of 15 passports.

According to Philippine Consul Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian, the consulate now has two data capturing machines, enabling them to double the number of biometrics capturing they can do. The consulate used to only have one data capturing machine.

“Now that we have two data capturing machines, as opposed to one back then, we are able to capture more applicants now. Before, we were only able to obtain around 300 to 400 people within a four-day period here, but now we are able to service around 700 to 750 applicants,” Auxilian said.

Auxilian was the team leader for the mobile consular team on Saipan during the outreach. As usual, they were assisted by the United Filipino Organizations. Last week’s event was announced five days prior by the Philippine Consulate General in Guam and Philippine Honorary consul to the CNMI Glicerio Arago.

Auxilian said: “Many of our Filipino brethren here have passports that are already expiring, with some already expired. Passports are something people need to renew their CW visa as well as use whenever they want to travel. So that’s why they need a valid passport.”

Arago said: “With the new data-capturing machine, we managed to process 696 passports, which was a big help. However, we still are still arranging for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to come, most likely within the first week of December, to help with insurance for the people.”

Other than passport services, the Philippine Consulate General in Guam also does civil registrations like reports of birth to help parents register their children as Philippine citizens, reports of marriage, and process applications for dual citizenship.

Annamae Adaza, a volunteer, said, “As always, some applicants didn’t show up, for different reasons. They say it’s late when they know about their appointments, no money for payment, cannot go out from work, but they have to think that without valid passports they cannot renew their CW’s or travel in case of an emergency. It’s everyone’s responsibility to have a valid passport at least six months before it expires. It’s tiring but rewarding to be able to serve our kababayans [compatriot] and we can’t please them all, but as long as the majority are happy then that’s good enough.”