Shop, eat - and get your passport, too

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) opened its first consular satellite office in Metro Manila at SM Megamall on Sept. 1.Conveniently located at the 7th floor of the mall’s newly opened Building C, the 1,300-sqm. DFA consular satellite office (or DFA-National Capital Region East Office ) offers new passport application, passport renewal, replacement of lost passport and authentication services.

This office is part of the out-of-the-box formula that the DFA pursued last year to make their services faster, more accessible and convenient to the public and also as a result of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements the DFA entered with SM and other private companies

This partnership with SM gives mallgoers the opportunity to have their passports processed while shopping, having fun, and doing their other errands in SM Megamall.

“The opening of DFA-NCR East is the continuing fruition of the President and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to bringing world class and convenient service to the public,” DFA Undersecretary for Administration Rafael E. Seguis said.

It can accommodate up to 1,000 applicants a day for new passport application, passport renewal and replacement of lost passport. Applicants are encouraged to schedule an appointment for fast facilitation of their passport applications, as only applicants with scheduled appointments, PWD, OFW and senior citizens with valid proof of age will be accommodated.

 “One’s application can be finished in an hour or less while Seniors, PWD and OFW are guaranteed to finish their application in 45 minutes.” said DFA passport division director Andre Estanislao.

“Two hundred applicants a day can be accommodated for the authentication service.   Walk-in applicants are also accepted here,” he adds.

The DFA-NCR East will be open to public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, for both processing and releasing.    It will also be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays, but for releasing only.

To schedule an appointment, applicants can log on to www.passport.com.ph or to www.megamallpassport.com.ph or call the DFA appointment hotline 737-1000.

The DFA-NCR East office is located at the 7th floor, Building C of SM Megamall. This project with the Department of Foreign Affairs is one of the many services SM extends beyond shopping to its customers. Apart from offering foreign exchange, remittance, bills payments, show tickets, and phone card services at its Department Stores and Business Centers in the mall, SM also facilitates government services through tie-ups with the NSO, Pag-ibig, Phil-Health.