Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — Nine more temporary offsite passport service (TOPS) offices would be opened in the country by the end of this year to accommodate more passport applicants, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday
“Bukod sa pagpapalawig ng 11 TOPS na nakalagay karamihan sa Metro Manila at Luzon, kami ay patuloy na magbubukas pa nga siyam na TOPS sa nalalabing buwan ng taon na ito para makumpleto namin ang 20 TOPS ang mag-ooperate,” DFA assistant secretary Senen Mangalile told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: Apart from expanding the 11 TOPS that are located mostly in Metro Manila and Luzon, we will continue to open nine TOPS in the remaining months of this year so we can complete 20 TOPS that will operate.]
Mangalile added the additional TOPS would be able to offer a maximum of 500 appointment slots per day.
“Kung maidadagdag sa DFA Aseana at ibang consular offices sa ibang regions, aabot sa 10,000 slots per day ang mao-offer ng DFA,” Mangalile told Newsroom Ngayon.
[Translation: When added to the DFA Aseana and other consular offices in other regions, the DFA can offer up to 10,000 slots per day.]
Mangalile did not say where the additional offices would be located or when they would open.
He said the TOPS were only supposed to run until September, but DFA secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. extended its operations until Dec. 31, 2021 to accommodate more people.
Mangalile said they have not yet opened any slots for the second half of November until December and advised the public to keep checking their website as these would soon be available.
For those who need their passports to be immediately renewed, Mangalile said an email can be sent to oca.cl@dfa.gov.ph. The email will be assessed before an appointment is given.
