DFA and the e-Passport

Ever since the e-Passport was developed, people have found it easier to go in and out of countries because identity authentication of travelers became faster and more accurate. Also known as a biometric passport, the e-Passport makes use of the so-called contactless smart card technology with a microchip that contains biometric information – fingerprint, palm print, DNA and sometimes even data on the eyes and voice – about the passport holder.

Obviously, the development of the e-Passport became an absolute necessity especially after 9-11. The United States’ Department of Homeland Security is now making it mandatory for anyone traveling to the United States to carry an e-Passport. Visa exempt countries were given an October 2006 deadline to comply with the requirement, while the International Aviation Organization gave all its 184-member countries until April 1, 2010 to comply.

 Aside from combating international terrorism, the e-Passport has been widely regarded as an effective tool in enhancing border security to curb illegal immigration and to monitor and control the influx of undocumented workers. As early as August 2007, a leading fingerprint authentication company in Japan collaborated with a Singapore-based security company to launch a product lineup of e-Passport control systems that include a multi-wavelength scanner platform with a fingerprint reader and authentication system, plus a wireless e-Passport reader for border security requirements.

On Aug. 11 last year, the first e-Passport was issued for then-president Gloria Arroyo, with Foreign Affairs officials trumpeting the various security features such as a tamper-proof electronic microchip, ultra thin lamination and a hidden encoded image. Early this year, the DFA officially opened its new Consular Affairs office near the SM Mall of Asia in Parañaque - a swanky, 7,000-square meter four storey steel and glass structure touted as an “intelligent building” because it is equipped with CCTV cameras, fiber optic cables and other high-tech communications facilities. But while the DFA may be issuing e-Passports at its new building ostensibly as part of modernization efforts, the department seems stuck in the ’60s when it comes to processing passport applications, with people made to wait for hours in snake-like queues.

This was the unfortunate experience of one of our readers, Herbert Sancianco, who emailed us about the tedious process he went through at the DFA last week. Sancianco complied with the strict online appointment system instituted by the DFA wherein only those with confirmed appointments on a specified date will be accommodated at the new building - precisely to avoid lengthy queues typical with walk-in applications. He received his phoned-in confirmation on the third week of May for his July 2, 1:00 p.m. appointment, and dutifully showed up 30 minutes before the appointed time expecting the entire process to be a breeze - in fact, 30 minutes or even less as one official had boasted since the facility is equipped with 60 new data capturing computer stations, supposedly making it “at par with the best passport systems in the world.”

 I can just imagine our reader’s frustration at seeing the snaking lines, with the guard saying the appointment schedule is no longer followed so Sancianco had to line up like the rest of the people, many of whom were stationed outside enduring the heat just to get through the building’s door. It was utter chaos. It took an hour and a half before he got to a consul who checked his papers, then off to the second floor to pay for the 10-day processing fee, then to step three where he will be given a call number for the photo and biometric process. “I was the 500th applicant,” Sancianco wrote, who by then had wasted three hours waiting and had witnessed some people fainting because of exposure to the heat while waiting for their turn to go inside the building. Worse, he and 50 others who stepped out to buy snacks and drinks (since their numbers have not been called yet) were refused entry by guards when they went back. Apparently, it was policy to close the door at 4:30 p.m. - and it was only when someone threatened to call the media that the guards allowed them to go in.

By then, people were already sitting on the floor or on anything they could rest on, with the air conditioning unable to cool down the crowd of 3,000 or so who had no choice but to endure the frustrating process. “Not one at that building administration office nor from the DFA management made his presence felt to resolve customer service issues with the applicants that day. My number was finally called at 6:30 p.m. - a full 6-hour wait. After me were 1,000 or so people still waiting, who I surmise would be served by around 10 p.m.,” Sancianco lamented.

He learned that the DFA was processing 10,000 applications that day, with the backlog supposedly spawned by the June 30 inauguration of President Noy which was declared a holiday. With the new administration, I think its high time the DFA develop a better system to handle passport processing and live up to the hype of having state-of-the art facilities. Otherwise, let’s not try to impress ordinary folks with all these hi-tech stuff when in reality we’re still following the old system of “pila ng pila hanggang mapilay.”

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As agreed with STAR CEO Miguel Belmonte, I will be starting a new column on Tuesday next week called “Spy Bits” to replace “Takin’ Care of Business.” Like its title suggests, “Spy Bits” will feature interesting behind-the-scene tidbits on political, business and social news items.

We have been experiencing an information overload from our network of informants so we decided it was high time we change our column to something more appropriate and share a lot of these inside information to our readers. We will have a new e-mail address so everyone is welcome to give us their feedback or send some verifiable information to us.

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Email: [email protected]