DFA seeks additional fund to address passport backlog听听
THE DEPARTMENT听of Foreign Affairs听(DFA) has听asked Congress to consider an additional P53.37-million fund to address the backlog听on听up to four million passport applications.听听听听
The听department听proposed听a听P21.051-billion听budget for 2022听during the听hearing听at the House of Representatives听Tuesday, 5.43% lower than the P22.26-billion听allocation this year.听听听
DFA Assistant Secretary Myla Grace R. Macahilig asked the House to consider听including听some items in the proposed 2022 budget that was removed by the executive department as the agency originally proposed a P39.08-billion听allocation for next year.听听听
Funding for the establishment of temporary off-site passport service sites were among the funds that DFA听asked听Congress to consider inserting to the proposed 2022 budget.听听
This comes after Marino Party-list Rep.听Macnell听M.听Lusotan听asked DFA officials on plans regarding backlogs on the issuance and renewals of passports after DFA Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.听revealed that there was a backlog of听three听to听four听million听passport听applications.听听
鈥淭hat鈥檚 in part because there is a flood of applicants, but it鈥檚 also due to venue capacity limitations brought about by lockdowns. We opened new consular offices, but there are no funds to continue their operations. We have to open more temporary offsite sites. While the rent is free, setting up听costs听money,鈥澨齅r. Locsin said.听听
DFA Undersecretary Brigido D. Dulay said that Mr. Locsin ordered the agency to put up听an听additional 10 to 20 temporary off-site passport听processing听sites to address the backlog.听听听
VFA听
Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc,听meanwhile, asked what the听changes are in听the terms and conditions听of听the revised Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States after President Rodrigo R. Duterte recalled the abrogation of the听military deal听last听July.听听
Mr. Locsin听said it was mainly听鈥渃larifications of procedures鈥澨齣n the agreement鈥檚 implementation such as the handling of criminal jurisdictions in cases involving听American听military personnel,听and transmittal of notification and communications through diplomatic channels, among others.听听
Gabriela听Women鈥檚 Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas said that the updated provisions would need to undergo ratification听by听Congress.听听听
She also said in a separate statement on Tuesday that the modifications should be scrutinized听to ensure that it does not prompt more听cases of violence perpetuated by US soldiers.听鈥斕齊ussell Louis C. Ku听听
