DFA waives passport replacement requirements for 'Yolanda' victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has waived some requirements for the processing of passport application of those severely affected by Super Typhoon "Yolanda."

The DFA said these requirements are the affidavit of mutilation, affidavit of loss of valid passport, and the penalty fee for lost valid passports (P250 for machine-readable and P350 for electronic passports).

But the agency said applicants should submit a written statement on the loss or mutilation of their passports and if possible, a barangay certification stating that they are victims of the recent typhoon.

The waiver will be implemented by all DFA offices until January 31, 2014.

Passport applications filed after the said date will need the usual requirements for lost valid and mutilated passports and payment of the appropriate fees.

The DFA said its Tacloban Regional Consular Office is indefinitely suspended due to the devastation of Yolanda.

But the agency assured that the passports of the applicants there will be kept in the main consular office in Parañaque City.

"Affected applicants who wish to claim their passports may do so at the Office of Consular Affairs at Macapagal Avenue. They may also get it from our other offices upon request," the DFA said in its website.

The DFA added that the release of some passports of Tacloban applicants will be delayed because of water damage.

According to the agency, passport applicants may send a representative to claim their passports subject to the following requirements:

• representative must be an immediate family member (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, son or daughter)
• authorization letter from the applicant
• original claim stub from RCO Tacloban
• representative’s valid government-issued ID
• valid ID with photo and signature and old passport of the applicant (for renewal only)

On the other hand, passports of minor applicants can be released to the parent who signed the application. A representative may also claim the passport if both parents are abroad but the following requirements are needed:

• Special Power of Attorney or SPA executed by either or both parents at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General located near the place of residence and/or employment of parent/s
• copy of the passport/s of either parents attached to the SPA
• original claim stub from RCO Tacloban
• representative’s valid government-issued ID

For queries or requests, concerned applicants may send an email to [email protected] or call 556-0000.