Tourism players ask gov’t to lift DFA memo

CEBU, Philippines - Tourism players are asking the Aquino government, specifically the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to lift the deadline of the circular which gave accredited travel agencies only up to December 31, 2012 to offer passport processing to the public. 

Tourism advocate Robert Lim Joseph, who is also the current chairman of Tourism Educators and Movers Philippines (TEAM Philippines) and founder of the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines, said that with December 31  just around the corner, many small and micro travel agencies across the country will face disruption of business, or even closure.

The circular,  issued by the DFA in June this year,  appropriated only five percent of the daily demand for passport service of each consular office to travel agencies, and restricted travel agency representatives from entering consular premises to assist their clients.

The directive was in line with the DFA’s move to open consular offices in malls to accept and process passport applications and allow applicants to claim their passports.

According to Joseph the small and micro travel agencies do not oppose the opening of consular offices in malls but the government should not also curtail the right of travel agencies to offer passport services to clients.

Joseph pointed out that under Republic Act  8239 or the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, the right of travel agencies to process passport applications is clearly provided.

Subsection B of  Section 6 also states that “In case of renewal the application may be filed by any licensed travel agency duly accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs: Provided, that the agent shall be responsible for the authenticity or bona fide of the supporting documents being presented to meet the requirements for the application of passports.”

He said the DFA directive also discriminates against people, including VIPs and busy businessmen and executives, who want to avail of travel agency services for personal reasons.

“Why remove that right from the public and travel agencies? The travel agencies actually make it easier for the DFA to review documentation. The DFA should not remove this right from travel agencies,” he reiterated.

Likewise, Joseph took issue against the five percent cap being implemented now up to December 31,  saying this has created tremendous backlog among the travel agencies.

In Cebu alone, the average demand for passport processing through travel agencies reaches up to 1,300 per day. Of these, only 500 passports are issued daily.

With the five percent cap, this means that travel agencies in Cebu, numbering about 62, will have to fight over the  25 passport applications which the DFA will process in a day.

Joseph expressed fear that after December 31, many micro travel agencies around the country will have to close down operations because a substantial portion of their income comes from passport processing fee.

“The DFA is killing the industry, specifically the micro entrepreneurs,” he said.

Joseph, who has supported the academe and the cooperative sector, local airlines, air safety and fair trade, has already written President Aquino and the DFA on this matter, and brought the issue to some members of the House of Representatives. (FREEMAN)