MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday clarified that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is not responsible for the existing passport backlogs.
In a statement, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario said the delays in the production and issuances of passports are the "technical difficulties... for the transfer of the facilities from the current BSP site to its new location in Batangas."
Del Rosario said the DFA is expected to address the delays within a month.
"The recent statement issued to the media which may have been interpreted to have attributed the delays to the BSP was inaccurate. The BSP has been a valued partner of the DFA and its delivery of service has been more than acceptable and in accordance with expectations.
"We regret that the DFA's statement may have cast an unfair misimpression on the quality delivery of service and the full cooperation extended by the BSP," he said.
On Thursday, Assistant Secretary Frank Cimafranca of the DFA’s Office of Consular Affairs blamed the power outages and breakdown of machines at the BSP where the printing and assembly of passport booklets are being done for the passport backlog.
He said the backlog has reached to more than 42,000 passports.