BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 24) — City Administrator Peter Fianza is calling on passport applicants within Baguio and neighboring towns to proceed to his office, at city hall, for pre-evaluation of documents in preparation for the third quarter mobile passporting on September 15-16.

From a 1,000 application forms to be issued, only 800 passports applicants are assured of complete processing, as to authenticity and completeness of documents needed, in accordance to the guidelines issued.

The program, as undertaken by the local government of Baguio in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) based in San Fernando, La Union, aims to ease difficulties and expenses of applicants in traveling to the DFA office in San Fernando, La Union.

Evaluation of documents, processing and payment of fees shall be on Saturday, September 15 while release of passports starts Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning, September 16 at the same venue.

As to records, residents of neighboring towns of La Trinidad, Kapangan, Kibungan, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay have lined-up and acquired their passports during earlier passporting services. Other applicants came from Mt. Province and Ifugao.

For ease at the processing area during said dates, chronologically arranged numbers shall be assigned and posted for applicants, upon completion of pre-evaluation procedures and requirements.

Applicants assigned numbers 1-200 shall be catered to at exactly 6:30 AM, Sept. 15, with processing of batches of 50 persons until the quota of 800 is completed. Thereafter, batches of 10 applicants shall be processed as time allows. Applicants with numbers 1-200 are expected to line up along the hallway starting 6:00 AM, on September 15.

Applicants are required to bring with them upon pre-evaluation; Birth Certificate (BC) in Security Paper (SecPa) issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or Certified True Copy and photocopy issued by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) duly authenticated by the NSO; documents indicating full name, date and place of birth and citizenship. Said documents may be; valid employment ID, voter’s affidavit, NBI clearance and drivers license.

Three copies of 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm new photo (colored with white background), with the applicant in decent attire with collar is also required.

All other additional documents shall be required; for married women, illegitimate or legitimated minor children, legally adopted children, and minors traveling with a parent or guardian.

For individuals born on or before 1950, requirements include; certification of non-availability of birth record from NSO, joint birth affidavit signed and executed by two disinterested persons, and baptismal certificate, voter’s affidavit or other public document with place and date of birth and citizenship.

Other requirements which may be requested are: Social Security System (SSS) form or digitized ID, Baptismal certificate, income tax return (ITR), school form 137 or transcript of records (ToR), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ID, Seaman’s book, marriage contract, Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) ID and Postal ID.

Processing fees for new passport application is P600, with an additional P250 for the expedited processing, a total of P850 to be paid after processing of documents.

According to the DFA in-charge, the mobile passporting program is in line with the commitment of the consular office to enforce, as to government directives, the delivery of front line services “promptly, extensively and closer to the people.”

Applicants are advised not to bring along friends or children, as they will not be allowed entry in the processing area. Elderly passport applicants, however shall be given consideration in the processing. # Julie G. Fianza/PIO