Travel agents can process passports until December

CEBU, Philippines - Travel agents are still allowed to process passport applications of their clients in the next six months.

Robert Joseph, President Emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS), said the Department of Foreign Affairs has moved to January next year the implementation of its order disallowing travel agencies from processing passports.

The directive was supposed to take effect last July 1, but DFA reportedly granted the request to defer implementation.

Joseph made the announcement during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

“There is no such thing as banning travel agents in the provincial area,” he said.

Joseph, also the chairman of the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines, thanked the local press for coming up with stories about the concerns of travel operators as regards the directive.

It was also during the 888 News Forum last May 8, 2012 when Joseph disclosed the memorandum issued by DFA Cebu officer-in-charge Elias Balawag giving travel agencies only until June 30, 2012 to file passport applications of their clients.

Passport processing would eventually become an exclusive function of DFA.

The House of Representatives is set to investigate the cancellation of accreditation of new travel agencies in Cebu.

Balawag earlier issued the memorandum following the directive of the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration, which intends to ensure that passport services are made available at no additional cost to the public.

In its May 2 directive, the DFA barred its consular offices nationwide from accrediting travel agencies offering passport services effective June 30, 2012 and to remove the special privileges enjoyed by accredited agencies such as guaranteed slots and express processing for their clients.

Joseph described the move as ridiculous saying that DFA has appointed service providers to handle the processing.

He stressed that passport applicants have the option to go directly to DFA and its service providers if they cannot afford the service fee of travel agents.

The DFA is set to release new guidelines to improve delivery of passport and other consular services to the public, as well as the accreditation of travel agencies.

The DFA has taken into consideration the appeals made by NAITAS, Philippine Travel Agency Association, the Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association, and other stakeholders.

–(FREEMAN)