Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has appealed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to put up more extension offices in Westesrn Visayas.
“With the volume of applicants being catered to from all over [the region], it is incumbent and more prudent to open more venues for the application of passports in other provinces,” he said in a letter to DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo.
Treñas noted that around 300-400 Ilonggos apply for or renew their passports in both the DFA Regional Consular Office and the Temporary Off-Site Passport Services (TOPS) in the city per day.
“This has, in a way, slowed down the processing of predominantly passport-related transactions for [DFA] which indubitably aroused impatience among customers who are unable to easily and efficiently transact with the said agency,” the mayor said.
“The undersigned earnestly implores your kindest indulgence and benevolence for the opening of extension offices in the provinces of Aklan, Antique and Capiz to ensure the speedy transaction process of individuals who wish to transact with [DFA],” he added.
According to Treñas, it is the duty of the city government and DFA to “provide efficient services to our constituents.”IMT
