DFA: Fixers now online

Written by Estrella Torres / Reporter
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 21:44
BusinessMirror Philippines

FOREIGN-affairs assistant secretary for consular affairs Jaime Ledda admitted that passport fixers have penetrated the department’s online- application system by “blocking appointments en masse” and selling “schedules” to applicants.

Ledda said passport fixers who used to hound the offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to victimize applicants in the old building in Pasay City have transformed into “online fixers.”

He said that in the last few weeks, nonappearance for those who have set appointments online jumped to 40 percent, meaning that fixers make appointments and sell the confirmed schedules to prospective applicants going to the DFA consular office in Aseana Building in Parañaque City.

“The DFA found that a number of individuals and groups hoping to earn money by victimizing passport applicants have been making multiple appointments online and thus, creating an artificial demand for appointments,” said Ledda in a press briefing on Wednesday at Harbourview in Manila.

Applicants trying to access the online-appointment system have been given two to three months’ waiting period before they can file their applications because the online fixers have been able to block genuine applications.

The department has started implementing the electronic passport (e-passport) system since August last year under the stewardship of Ledda’s predecessor and now Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Domingo Lucenario Jr.

The number of applications have since then jumped from an average of 4,000 to 5,000 a day to at least 10,000 to 12,000 a day.

But Ledda admitted that the consular office could only release 5,000 passports daily. He said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which handles production of e-passport, is expected to increase its equipment and train additional staff to be able to increase the number of passports being issued every day.

He said the department is now coordinating with the National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to crack down on fixers approaching passport applicants outside the consular affairs building.

And btw if there are members who live or have lived in neighbouring countries and places like Singapore, Hong Kong, other ASEAN or East Asia how are things in those places do they have ID cards not necessarily electronic and how does it work ? .

I have a Smart HK Permanent Identity Card which is the electronic version.

http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/images/smartcard_front.jpg

It is also used as a travel document.

One advantage of having smart identity cards is efficiency.

Whether arriving of departing in HKIA, you can just use your smart identity card to get through immigration via e-channels instead of waiting long line in the immigration counters.

http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/images/echannel5.jpg

6fJsmherr7M

This what's make going through HKIA faster.

^^ Canada uses the same thing. It is very efficient.

^^ Canada uses the same thing. It is very efficient.

Yes despite Canada not having biometric passports.

DFA scrambles to solve ePassport woes
GMANews.TV - Thursday, July 8

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been scrambling to solve seemingly unending woes with its electronic passport (ePassport) project, following complaints from several groups on the longer waiting time for appointments and the higher fees for its passport services. This time, the DFA claims it has “quashed" attempts to sabotage the online appointment system supposedly by “online fixers."

“A number of individuals and groups hoping to earn money by victimizing passport applicants have been making multiple appointments online and thus, creating an artificial demand for appointments," it said in a release posted on its website. Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda said the Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) has identified these “online fixers," and a technical solution was used to address the problem. "There have been serious attempts to sabotage the system but we have overcome it," Ledda said in the release. He noted that for the past weeks, non-appearance among those who have set appointments online jumped to 40 percent. It was not clear what kind of solution the department employed. He added they are also cracking down on fixers who approach passport applicants outside the OCA building at the ASEANA Business Park in Parañaque, in cooperation with the police and the National Bureau of Investigation. The reported problem with online fixers arose after recruitment agencies scored the department for failing to rid its passport offices of fixers who allegedly charge as much as P10,000 just for an appointment. (See: Passport fixers still roam DFA’s high-tech facility) The DFA likewise came under criticism after the waiting time for setting up an appointment went up to as many 20 working days. (See: DFA scored for ‘delay’ in release of ePassports) In the same release, however, the DFA said the earliest appointment for applicants who are not overseas Filipino workers (OFW) is now down to less than a month Ledda said non-OFW applicants who were previously given appointments for September have the option to request for an earlier appointment. He explained that the reduced waiting time is due to the increase in the passport production capability of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on a daily basis, to between 10,000 and 12,000. When the ePassport project started in 2009, only 3,000 passports were produced daily, he said. "We have been provided the necessary personnel required in the operation of equipment and we have trained enough personnel over the past months. We have also gotten the additional equipment needed," Ledda explained. He added the DFA and the BSP are targeting to process and issue 15,000 passports a day once the ePassport project is fully implemented worldwide. No appointments needed for OFWs In a separate release, the DFA reiterated that OFWs applying for passports for the first time or for renewal need not secure an appointment. “Except Sundays and public holidays, OFWs' passport applications are processed immediately and on a daily basis," it said in another release. OFWs may submit their documents to the following DFA offices: OCA building located at the ASEANA Business Park; DFA-Philippine Overseas Employment Agency Passport Extension Office (DFA-POEA) in Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City; DFA's 19 Regional Consular Offices and 26 Foreign Service Posts; and DFA mobile passport conducted nationwide.Applications by OFWs will be processed provided they have copies of their Contract of Employment (for new OFWs), Overseas Employment Certificate issued by the POEA (for visiting OFWs), or a valid working visa as proof of their status. Passport services at the DFA-POEA, located at the ground floor of the POEA Building, however, will still be provided on a first-come-first-served basis. Earlier, recruitment agencies sought the creation of a special lane for the processing of passports for OFWs. (See: Faster passport processing for OFWs sought)

While passport processing remains free of charge, basic passport fee is now P950 for regular processing — the cheapest in Asia and the rest of the world, according to the DFA. Abroad, Philippine Embassies and Consulates General charge a uniform passport fee of US$60 (about P2,780) — an increase from the previous $50 (about P2,320) uniform fee. Hike in passport fees In yet another release, the department said the US$60-fee for passport applicants overseas is cheaper compared to those being charged by other countries using the ePassport system. The OCA said Philippine ePassports are priced lower compared to Malaysia (approximately US$88), Turkey (approximately US$150), United States (US$97), and Japan (approximately US$182). Meanwhile, the uniform US$50 passport fee for Philippine machine-readable passports (MRPs) issued abroad is also cheaper than the cost of MRPs in other countries, according to the OCA. In Bangladesh, for instance, the cost of MRPs ranges from US$115 to US$165. Pakistan charges as high as US$120 for urgent passport applications. The Philippines has not increased its passport fees overseas since 1992, the OCA added. Filipinos in Riyadh and Hong Kong had earlier complained of the 20-percent increase in overseas passport application fee. Majority of the Philippines’ overseas posts are still issuing MRPs which are acceptable until 2015, but the OCA said at least 27 Philippine Embassies and Consulates General are already issuing, or in the process of pilot-testing, ePassports.—JV, GMANews.TV

Vietnam has a national ID.

I have a Smart HK Permanent Identity Card which is the electronic version.

Great nice to see how it works in other countries, im actually using mine right now to fill in my tax forms electronically online .

No more qeueing in some gov office and no more paperwork at least not on my end of the process .

Vietnam has a national ID.

Ang Pilipinas na lang sa ASEAN ang walang national ID...nakakahiyang aminin.

AYOKO. SI PING LACSON AKO E.

hehehe....

no need to CAPS LOCK

Ang Pilipinas na lang sa ASEAN ang walang national ID...nakakahiyang aminin.

Bopol kasi ng mga aktibistang tuliro. Kasama na ang civil society at simbahan.

Malaysian identity card has been used since 1940's during British rule.

The latest version of Malaysian identity card which is known as MyKad has been in use since 2001.

It contains smart chip that can be read via a special card reader.

This card can be used as ATM card, cashcard, driving licence and as "Touch n Go" card which is a contactless card that can be used to pay for motorway tolls and public transport services which support the Touch n Go card.

Bopol kasi ng mga aktibistang tuliro. Kasama na ang civil society at simbahan.

The gov't launched yung national ID, pero sa government workers muna...testing waters. So far, no outcry from the militants.

Ang Pilipinas na lang sa ASEAN ang walang national ID...nakakahiyang aminin.

bakit naman nakakahiyang aminin na wala tayong national ID?

anyways, I do hope we get a national ID approved for us para isang ID na lang kelangan kesa maraming iba't ibang ID..

@ron any article regarding that? yun ba yung unified ID na dati pa nilang plan gawin yung isang id na lang ung sss, gsis, lto, nbi etc...

hindi lang naman ang mga aktibista ang ayaw sa national id, kung di pati na din yung mga magnanakaw na pulitiko na takot na ma track down ang location nila at kung ano ang ginagawa nila sa pera. Isipin mo kung yung national id ipapakita mo pag papasok ka sa mga nightclub. e di bistado ka na.

Para sa mahilig magreklamo na mahal ang passport natin.

Philippine Passport Fees Abroad Cheaper Than in Other Countries (http://www.dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/newsroom/dfa-releases/1542-philippine-passport-fees-abroad-cheaper-than-in-other-countries)
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 15:32 Public Information Service Unit

7 July 2010 - The US$60 fee that the Philippine Government charges Filipino passport applicants overseas is cheaper compared to those of other countries issuing electronic passports (epassports).

The fee is uniform in all cases, including urgent and expedited applications.

Data culled by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs showed that compared to Malaysia (approximately US$88), Turkey (approximately US$150), United States (US$97), and Japan (approximately US$182), Philippine epassports are priced lower.

There are 27 Philippine Embassies and Consulates General that are already issuing, or in the process of pilot-testing, epassports.

Meanwhile, the uniform US$50 passport fee for Philippine machine-readable passports (MRPs) issued abroad is also cheaper than the cost of MRPs in other countries.

In Bangladesh, for instance, the cost of MRPs ranges from US$115 to US$165. Pakistan charges as high as US$120 for urgent passport applications.

Majority of Philippine Embassies and Consulates are still issuing MRPs which are acceptable until 2015.

It can be noted that the Philippines has not increased its passport fees overseas since 1992. END

It's not a trademark of any one company per se. It's the universal logo to denote that the passport is an e-passport (biometric).

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uGShOtYdG_o/RdeR7Q60p-I/AAAAAAAAADg/fXcJ8eJMB80/s320/biometric.jpg


not merely a logo i believe, there's a chip in there too where data are stored? :dunno:

but i'm wondering though, if i check in for a flight, i use the first page to swipe in my details

DFA: Fixers now online

Written by Estrella Torres / Reporter
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 21:44
BusinessMirror Philippines



:rofl:

Ang Pilipinas na lang sa ASEAN ang walang national ID...nakakahiyang aminin.

Bopol kasi ng mga aktibistang tuliro. Kasama na ang civil society at simbahan.

kaya kolelat tayo :bash: :lol:

kaya kolelat tayo :bash: :lol:

saan?

alam ko, number 1 ang mga pinoy/pinay sa kaguwapohan/kagandahan:lol:

saan?

alam ko, number 1 ang mga pinoy/pinay sa kaguwapohan/kagandahan:lol:

tse di ka kasali doon :bash: vietcong kang pinoy :lol:

tse di ka kasali doon :bash: vietcong kang pinoy :lol:

boinks, ingat ka, derogatory word yata yan tsong. alam mo naman dito, may mga eng eng at feelingeros.

@ron any article regarding that? yun ba yung unified ID na dati pa nilang plan gawin yung isang id na lang ung sss, gsis, lto, nbi etc...

Here's the related news.

GSIS to launch unified ID system
By Iris C. Gonzales (The Philippine Star) Updated March 02, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (2) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) would soon introduce the Unified Multi-Purpose ID System to replace the agency’s eCard, the all-in-one utility card.

This as the government is scheduled to roll out the first wave of the new ID cards in March, with the Social Security System, the state-owned pension fund for employees in the private sector as the lead proponent.

The shift to the UMID upgrades the present government IDs such as the SSS, GSIS and Philippine Health Insurance
Corp. The target is to produce 12 million cards.

GSIS said that its UMID-compliant eCard will replace the eCard Plus but with no cost to the member.

It said the new eCard will already bear a Common Reference Number or CRN. The CRN is the primary identifier of an individual transacting business or availing of services from any government agency.

With the CRN, the UMID-compliant eCard will serve as a valid identification card not only for the GSIS but also for the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) and other government agencies.

The UMID system is an offshoot of Executive Order No. 420 which requires all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations to streamline and harmonize their identification systems through the use of a unified multi-purpose ID.

With the use of a single identification system, government agencies, such as the GSIS will be able to get rid of redundant information or database.

GSIS said the government hopes that the system will also enhance the integrity of state-issued ID cards, facilitate the public’s transactions
with the government, and cut costs from producing different IDs.

The GSIS’ eCard Plus, whose earliest functions was just an identification and an automated teller machine (ATM) card, is now a transaction card, a hospitalization card, an education benefit card, and a discount card.

Active members can apply for different loan products and withdraw pension claims using the card.

GSIS said all the features of the eCard will be retained in the UMID-compliant eCard.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=554058&publicationSubCategoryId=66

^^ so it is not national ID but unified id... until now wala parin atang plan para sa national id system....

^^ As long as civil society groups and so-called "privacy advocates" will continue to oppose the proposed national ID, don't count on it being passed.

^^

House bill revives proposal for national ID
By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated August 17, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (21) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker has filed a bill institutionalizing a national identification card that would contain all vital information of every citizen in the Philippines.

Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara said House Bill 131, which proposes the issuance of a “VIP card” on a voluntary basis, covers all Filipinos and resident aliens of legal age.

Bichara said the bill would institutionalize a national voluntary information personal (VIP) card in order to facilitate and streamline governmental transactions and increase productivity.

He said the VIP card will serve as valid proof of the bearer’s identity. It will contain the cardholder’s permanent serial number, name, photograph, residence address, date of birth, sex, height and weight, nationality, blood type, polling precinct, barangay/municipality/city or province and special medical needs.

“The VIP card will protect, secure and/or save the holder from red tape in the government bureaucracy, unnecessary harassments, and waste of time,” Bichara said.

He said the VIP card shall be presented and honored in transactions requiring the identity, status, birth and other personal circumstances with any government agency, application for passport and driver’s license.

The VIP card can also be used in filing applications for any services and benefits offered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) and Home Development Mutual Fund (HMDF).

He said the VIP card can also function as proof of identity for admission in all schools, colleges and universities, learning institutions, as well as for employment purposes.

Under the bill, persons qualified to register for the VIP card shall apply and register with the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of the municipality or city where the applicant is located.

Any person who files an application for the registration and issuance of the VIP card containing statements known to him to be false or who procures registration and issuance of an identification card other than his own shall be penalized with a P10,000 fine or one year imprisonment.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=603479&publicationSubCategoryId=63

^^ What's the point of a national ID if it's only going to be voluntary?

^^ Exactly! On the other hand, if those skeptic people see the many advantages of NID sooner or later it will become across the board.

Int’l aviation group commends RP on ePassport program

Posted on September 14th, 2010 under The Good Balita

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has commended the Philippines for implementing its electronic passport (ePassport) program.

ICAO president Robert Kobeh Gonzales described the issuance of the ePassport as “highly significant,” as it facilitates the transit of passengers through international airports and provides greater safety.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the ePassport, which is compliant with ICAO standards, has been one of the flagship projects of the department in recent years.

“The Philippines is one of the first 60 countries which have implemented the ePassport, well ahead of the ICAO schedule. Filipino travelers are enjoying the benefits of a modern, tamper-proof and secure travel document,” the DFA said in the statement.

Gonzalez likewise expressed optimism in the corrective measures adopted by the government to address aviation safety concerns, saying that the Philippines is “moving in the right direction.”

For his part, the DFA said the ICAO-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is committed in implementing projects to improve Philippine aviation.

The ICAO validation team has planned a visit to the country in late 2010 or early 2011, while the European Union Aviation Safety is likewise expected in Manila this coming October, to check on the progress of the government’s corrective projects.

http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=12701

LTO: Paper to replace plastic driver’s license :ohno:

by Roy Pelovello
Manila Standard Today
Sept. 15, 2010

THE LAND Transportation Office is shifting from issuing plastic drivers’ licenses to producing paper-based cards, which it says are as durable but more secure and more environment-friendly than the current ones.

The bidding for the P500-million contract for the new license cards will be held on Sept. 16, but a prospective bidder, All Visuals and Lights Systems Inc., has aired concerns the move goes against the global trend of using plastic cards for drivers’ licenses.

Land Transportation chief Virginia Torres said the shift was caused in part by fading pictures and information on plastic drivers’ licenses.

“We had problems with plastic cards that were easily broken and the pictures were fading,” Torres said in a text message.

In 2008 complaints were raised over fading ID pictures and unreadable information on the plastic drivers’ licenses supplied to the agency by Amalgamated Motors of the Philippines Inc., Torres said.

“What we want [is a driver’s license] that is not brittle, and with security features like holograms that cannot be faked,” she said, adding the paper to be used would be of “good quality.”

All Visuals disagreed.

“I don’t know of any country that still uses paper-based drivers’ licenses,” company secretary Michael Anthony Del Rosario said.

A search indicates that credit card-size plastic drivers’ licenses are the norm in the United States, the European Union, Singapore and Japan.

“But what I can say is that the new driver’s license will be durable and should last for more than the three year’s validity of the license,” said Bobby Rocohermoso, the agency’s public information officer.

Del Rosario said that if All Visuals joined the bidding, they would offer a biodegradable plastic card that would not have the defects of the previous drivers’ licenses.

The bidding for the P500-million contract was canceled in June after several prospective bidders noted that the project did not yet have an approved funding in the national budget.

P2-Billion DFA Deal Cancelled

But Supreme Court says termination subject to payment of expenses

By EDMER F. PANESA

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to terminate its P2-billion contract for the manufacture of machine-readable passports with BCA International Corp. and continue with the implementation of the new electronic passport or e-Passport project.

However, the High Court said the termination of the contract is subject to “payment of the actual expenses” incurred by BCA in carrying out the machine-readable passports and visas (MRP/V) project.

It also ordered the parties to agree on the conduct of arbitrary proceedings to settle their dispute, which may include the entitlement of the aggrieved party to just compensation.

BCA is a Philippine-Thai firm that won the public bidding in 2000 for the DFA’s MRP/V project under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme. But in 2005, the DFA decided to cancel its BOT agreement with BCA due to the latter’s financial incapacity to carryout the project.

Pending the BCA’s request for arbitration with the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI), DFA solicited bids for the supply, delivery, installation, and commissioning for the production of e-Passports.

On February 23, 2007, the BCA was able to secure a Writ of Preliminary Injunction from the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) enjoining government from proceeding with the e-Passport project.

However, the SC, in a resolution dated March 12, 2007, issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the RTC directive pending decision of a petition for certiorari filed by DFA and BSP.

In its latest decision, the SC nullified the Writ of Preliminary Injunction issued by the Pasig court and ordered the dismissal of the BCA’s case against the DFA and BSP.

The SC ruled that the RTC had no authority to stop the bidding and implementation of the e-Passport project, citing Section 3 of Republic Act (RA) 8975 that prohibits any court, except the SC, from issuing TROs and preliminary injunctions against “national government projects.”

“From the foregoing, it is indubitable that no court, aside from the Supreme Court, may enjoin a ‘national government project’ unless the matter is one of extreme urgency involving a constitutional issue such that unless the act complained of is enjoined, grave injustice or irreparable injury would arise,” the Court said in a 53-page decision penned by Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro.

Concurring with the ruling were Chief Justice Renato C. Corona and Associate Justices Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., Mariano C. del Castillo, and Jose P. Perez of the High Court’s First Division.

The Court likewise sustained the contention of DFA and BSP that BCA will suffer no grave and irreparable injury so as to justify the grant of injunctive relief.

It also pointed out that under RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Act, the e-Passport project is “not an infrastructure project that is protected from lower court issued injunctions under RA 8975, which, to reiterate, has for its purpose the expeditious and efficient implantation and completion of government infrastructure projects.”

At the same time, the Court said the BOT Law “expressly allows the government to terminate the BOT agreement, even without fault on the part of BCA, subject to the payment of the actual expenses incurred by the proponent plus reasonable return.

“Under the BOT Law and the Amended BOT Agreement (between the DFA/BSP and BCA), in the event of default on the part of the government or on the part of the proponent, the non-defaulting party is allowed to terminate the agreement, again subject to proper compensation in the manner set forth in the agreement,” the Court said.

BCA has been seeking damages from DFA and BSP amounting to P50 million.

The Court also upheld the right of the DFA and BSP to enter into a new contract with any other party while the controversy surrounding its previous contract with BCA is pending litigation.

It said the RTC’s grant of injunctive relief to BCA was “prejudicial to public interest since government would be indefinitely hampered in its duty to provide vital goods and services in order to preserve the private proprietary rights of the project proponent.”

Nevertheless, the Court said the dismissal of BCA’s case against the DFA and BSP at the RTC was without prejudice to the parties litigating the main controversy in arbitration proceedings, in accordance with the provisions of their BOT agreement.

The Court noted that the delay in the submission of the controversy to arbitration was caused by the “ambiguity” in Section 19.02 of the Amended BOT Agreement entered into by BCA and the government regarding the proper body to which a dispute between the parties may be submitted and the failure of the parties to agree on such an arbitral tribunal.

“However, this Court cannot allow this impasse to continue indefinitely. The parties involved must sit down together in good faith and finally come to an understanding regarding the constitution of an arbitral tribunal mutually acceptable to them,” it added.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/277190/p2billion-dfa-deal-cancelled

LTO: Paper to replace plastic driver’s license :ohno:

by Roy Pelovello
Manila Standard Today
Sept. 15, 2010

THE LAND Transportation Office is shifting from issuing plastic drivers’ licenses to producing paper-based cards, which it says are as durable but more secure and more environment-friendly than the current ones.

This has got to be one the dumbest moves by the LTO if they do is.

Sila na nga ang isa sa pinaka hight tech na govt agency pero gusto pa nila bumalik sa stone age???

LTO: Paper to replace plastic driver’s license :ohno:

by Roy Pelovello
Manila Standard Today
Sept. 15, 2010

THE LAND Transportation Office is shifting from issuing plastic drivers’ licenses to producing paper-based cards, which it says are as durable but more secure and more environment-friendly than the current ones.

The bidding for the P500-million contract for the new license cards will be held on Sept. 16, but a prospective bidder, All Visuals and Lights Systems Inc., has aired concerns the move goes against the global trend of using plastic cards for drivers’ licenses.

Land Transportation chief Virginia Torres said the shift was caused in part by fading pictures and information on plastic drivers’ licenses.

“We had problems with plastic cards that were easily broken and the pictures were fading,” Torres said in a text message.

In 2008 complaints were raised over fading ID pictures and unreadable information on the plastic drivers’ licenses supplied to the agency by Amalgamated Motors of the Philippines Inc., Torres said.

“What we want [is a driver’s license] that is not brittle, and with security features like holograms that cannot be faked,” she said, adding the paper to be used would be of “good quality.”

All Visuals disagreed.

“I don’t know of any country that still uses paper-based drivers’ licenses,” company secretary Michael Anthony Del Rosario said.

A search indicates that credit card-size plastic drivers’ licenses are the norm in the United States, the European Union, Singapore and Japan.

“But what I can say is that the new driver’s license will be durable and should last for more than the three year’s validity of the license,” said Bobby Rocohermoso, the agency’s public information officer.

Del Rosario said that if All Visuals joined the bidding, they would offer a biodegradable plastic card that would not have the defects of the previous drivers’ licenses.

The bidding for the P500-million contract was canceled in June after several prospective bidders noted that the project did not yet have an approved funding in the national budget.

The problem with the current driver's license is the plastic film that covers the face of the card. They can easily use similar materials to what proximity ID cards have with embedded chips in them and they shouldn't have problems with information fading away (since there's also an electronic backup).

I wonder whose bird brained idea it was to have paper licenses? Paper is porous, so any moisture that gets onto the license and you'll see deterioration set in. If they used the same technology as the new bank notes of Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, then they shouldn't have much of a problem.

^^ I think to solve the problem is use other way of printing the information to the plastic eg use new printers or ink or use diff brand.. I mean my my plastic atm card looks so new after 3 years. Low tech equitment type ginamit nla sigoro. Paper is a shit honestly.

DFA warns vs e-passport date fixers

Written by Estrella Torres / Reporter
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 12:56

AMID the rising number of victims of passport fixers, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reminded the public on Wednesday to apply for the e-passport directly at the Office of Consular Affairs in Parañaque City.

DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya reiterated the agency’s warning against unscrupulous individuals who charge exorbitant fees for a passport appointment.

He said the department is now coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation to file charges and arrest the passport fixers who continue to victimize e-passport applicants, particularly those from the provinces and the returning Filipino migrant workers.

An exclusive story by the Businessmirror in July had reported on the proliferation of online passport fixers who charge exorbitant fees ranging from P1,500 to P7,500. The online fixers block online appointments and sell these slots to e-passport applicants.

The consular office uncovered the scheme between April and May this year after legitimate applicants of e-passport complained they were having difficulty accessing the online appointments which, it turned out, were filled up by the syndicates with bogus applicants so they can corner the appointment slots.

“The DFA consular office does not authorize any of its personnel to offer passport-related services to the public inside or outside its premises, particularly on securing appointments,” said Malaya in a statement on Wednesday.

He also advised the public not to deal or transact any business with people or even offices near the DFA offering passport-related services.

Malaya also reminded the public that there is no need to bring passport photos because the new e-passport application requires applicants to personally go to the consular office for data-capturing procedure that include the applicant’s photos and biometric information (thumbprints and signature).

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/1622-dfa-warns-vs-e-passport-date-fixers

Bidding for drivers’ license suspended

Written by Lenie Lectura / Reporter
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 13:00

THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has ordered the suspension of the bidding for drivers’ license pending a review of the terms of reference (TOR).

In a statement, Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus instructed DOTC lawyers and Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Virginia Torres to review the entire “terms of reference” of the project to assure a “level playing field,” and “to open the public bidding to a wide selection of bidders with the best concepts and offers as possible.”

The auction for the production of drivers’ license for 2011 was supposed to take place this month but the Transportation secretary ordered an indefinite suspension, citing the need to resolve first the issues raised by interested bidders who alleged that the TOR of the contract was meant to favor a bidder.

The contract is estimated to be worth P500 million.

The LTO chief could not be contacted on Wednesday as she was engaged in a meeting, said an aide.

While the DOTC and LTO officials are hammering out the technical specifications, which will lead to a new bidding process, the LTO will continue to get its supply from the existing contractor to assure a steady supply of licenses for those who apply for new ones or for renewal.

De Jesus emphasized that the entire tender will be governed with utmost transparency, and “shall have no taint whatsoever of wrongdoing”—which is the hallmark of the new Aquino administration.

The LTO was told to specify “performance-based terms and conditions in the contract,” which means the specifications must address “the requirements of quality durability and functionality.”

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/1624-bidding-for-drivers-license-suspended

The problem with the current driver's license is the plastic film that covers the face of the card. They can easily use similar materials to what proximity ID cards have with embedded chips in them and they shouldn't have problems with information fading away (since there's also an electronic backup).

I wonder whose bird brained idea it was to have paper licenses? Paper is porous, so any moisture that gets onto the license and you'll see deterioration set in. If they used the same technology as the new bank notes of Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, then they shouldn't have much of a problem.

It's good that they are not pushing with the paper one....

Hi Guys,
May idea po ba kayo kung pwedeng kumuha ng Cedula sa Barangay hall or City halls dito sa Metro Manila ng weekends? or kung may alam po kayo na ibang gov't centers na pwedeng kunan ng Cedula pag Saturday?

LTO Chief Vows Transparency in License card Bidding

By KRIS BAYOS
September 26, 2010, 3:24pm

MANILA, Philippines – Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres Sunday said her religious affiliation will not influence the bidding process for the P500-million supply and delivery contract for the driver’s license cards.

This, after prospective bidders raised the issue of Torres’ affiliation with the Iglesia ni Cristo, whose leader Ka Erdie Manalo reportedly owns the Amalgamated Motors Philippines Incorporated (AMPI), one of the prospective card printing bidder.

AMPI is the LTO’s card printing contractor under a "quantum meruit" arrangement. AMPI allegedly benefits from the LTO’s absence of valid contract for the last seven years even if its contract has expired in 2003.

LTO records revealed that the volume of driver’s license renewals reaches more than three million annually. With a cost of P150 per driver’s license card, AMPI earns roughly P500 million every year, or roughly P3.5 billion in the past seven years.

In an interview, Torres said she will not let her religions affiliation mar her government position as she vowed to be transparent and impartial in determining the winning bidder for the most coveted contract.

“I’ll be transparent; I will not favor anybody over those that are compliant with the bidding process. My religion has nothing to do with this. Only the bidder that complies and wins the bidding will get my recognition,” she said.

Torres also said Secretary Jose de Jesus of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) has instructed her to review the contract’s terms of reference, which earlier earned opposition from bidders claiming it seems to favor certain bidders contrary to the ideals of the government procurement law.

It was recalled that lawyer Michael del Rosario of the All Visual and Lights Systems (AVLS) has urged De Jesus to intervene in the bidding process due to the alleged bias of the contract’s terms of reference to a Japanese card printer, Toppan, and French paper supplier, Arjowiggins, over other local bidders.

Bidders also questioned the LTO's preference to revert back to paper-based license cards. Alleged irregularities in the contract has prompted the DoTC to recommend the postponement of the bidding initially scheduled last Sept. 16 and 24.

While DoTC and LTO officials are hammering out the technical specifications, De Jesus said the LTO will continue to get its supply from the existing contractor, AMPI, “to assure a steady stream of licenses for those who apply for new ones or for renewal.”

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/279132/lto-chief-vows-transparency-license-card-bidding

Comelec starts printing voters ID cards

By Mayen Jaymalin (philstar.com) Updated September 26, 2010 05:00 PM Comments (1) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - After a long delay, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has finally gave the go signal for the printing of voters’ identification (ID) cards for over 34 million voters nationwide.

In a resolution, the Commission approved the request for printing of voters’ ID cars after ensuring that the voters' records have been cleansed of multiple registrants.

“Considering that the ID forms and printers are already available, the Commission resolves to approve the foregoing request for authority to commence the printing of the Voter's ID card of the cleansed records,” the Commission said in a one-page resolution.

Comelec Directors Teopisto Elnas (Operations) and Ester Villaflor-Roxas (Technical Matters) have reported that more than 35 million voters have already undergone the processing via the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

According to Elnas and Villaflor-Roxas, the procedure enabled the poll body to identify and remove from the list hundreds of thousands of multiple registrants.

“Out of the 35 million records processed, 738,640 records were found to be true and these records were already forwarded to the field offices for deletion,” said the poll directors.

Malacañang denies Roxas used fake ID at UN meet

By MADEL R. SABATER and GENALYN KABILING
September 27, 2010, 8:16pm

http://www.mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/fake-id.jpg

Reports had it that former Senator Mar Roxas allegedly identified himself as Education Secretary Armin Luistro to gain access to the UN General Assembly. (Image courtesy of MB GRAPHICS)

MANILA, Philippines — An investigation is now ongoing following reports that a member of the Philippine business delegation allegedly used an invalid pass card during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA.

Reports had it that former Senator Mar Roxas allegedly identified himself as Education Secretary Armin Luistro to gain access to the UNGA.

But Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda denied reports that Roxas used a fake ID card, saying the former senator had an official ID during the event.

“There is a gossip going around that Senator Mar Roxas allegedly used a fake ID to enter the UN. That is not correct,” Lacierda said in a press briefing at the Palace.

“The embassy was able to secure Senator Mar Roxas who, by the way has spoken before UN General Assembly, an ID to be able to attend the UN General Assembly,” he added.

Roxas, a member of the Philippine business delegation in the US, was among the handful of Filipinos who witnessed the President’s speech before the UN in its New York headquarters.

Reports said Roxas allegedly used the ID allotted for the education secretary to join Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and other Cabinet members in the box allotted for the Philippine delegation at the UN.

Asked what the role of Roxas was during the UN summit, Lacierda said Roxas, a former senator of the country, deserves a seat in the audience.

“You must remember that number one, he has spoken before the United Nations General Assembly. Number two, he is a former Senator of the Republic. I think that much we should accord him the position that he previously occupied as a former government official and that was the reason why the embassy provided an ID for him to attend the United Nations General Assembly,” he said.

But a source at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine delegate did not use a fake ID but was given an invalid pass card. The DFA is now investigating who gave the invalid pass card.

“We still cannot ascertain who gave him that card… the card was time-sensitive,” the source said, explaining that the situation was similar to being given a pass card that is only valid for a day but was still used the next day.

The source also said that the use of the invalid pass card was not the fault of the delegate but a “lapse” in the process.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/279363/malaca-ang-denies-roxas-used-fake-id-un-meet

Does anyone know how to get SSS, TIN, PhilHealth?

^^ Get the appropriate form, fill it out and go to your nearest SSS, BIR or PhilHealth office. Don't forget your two IDs as well.

Manila Mulls own ID System for Aliens
By CZARINA NICOLE O. ONG
October 7, 2010, 5:57pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City Council is looking at establishing an identification system for foreign nationals in the city called the Alien Special Local Identification Card (ASLID).

The council on Thursday deliberated on an ordinance filed by District 2 Councilors Rodolfo N. Lacsamana and Numero G. Lim.

Its proponents said the ordinance proposes to implement the ASLID to protect foreigners who intend to reside in the city for more than three months.

“The city shall not cease on the continuing efforts and programs to uplift the image of the city as foreigner and tourist-friendly by providing them with genuine assistance in whatever services and legal requirements they may seek,” the ordinance said.

Lim said that the number of foreign nationals staying in the city number around 200,000, and are often the unfortunate victims of thievery and scams.

Lacsamana added that the city boasts of many historical sites, such as the Intramuros Walls, and is home to many prestigious hotels.

“No wonder foreign nationals continue to flock in this historic city,” he noted. “However, there are foreigners who are subjected to ordeals because of harassment by unscrupulous Filipinos who are simply motivated to grab a quick buck from their pockets which are surmised to be overflowing with 'green' currencies.”

ASLID proposes to identify whether the foreign nationals in Manila are plain tourists, students, or traders with business purposes. Moreover, the council wants to ensure that the foreigners are treated with kindness and respect, with the ordinance urging barangay officials to give protection and assistance to card-bearers.

With the ASLID, foreigners are allowed to engage in several lawful activities, such as studying their desired courses and applying for a working visa as an enterprising tourist.

“The City Government shall ease the burden of foreigners and tourists in the facilitation of local paper requirements on visa extensions, LGU's certification, school document pre-requisites, business permits, legal advices, and police safety and security assistance, among others,” said the ordinance.


http://www.mb.com.ph/node/280985/manila-mull

^^ Nakupo. May annual ACR na kaya ang mga foreigners sa Pinas, tapos heto na naman? Ano ba yan.

^^ Pera yan eh...

I think this should be made illegal. Andami ng fees!

Is there a passport BOOK number on Phil passports? Not passport number ha. I'm applying for visa online and this is one of the data they need aside from the passport number itself. I tried searching DFA website but I can't seem to find any info re this. Any reply will be greatly appreciated. :)

BI plans to have own identification system
By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) Updated October 20, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (2) View comments

MANILA, Philippines - After receiving flak for placing advertisements on arrival and departure cards in airports, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is planning to have its own identification system.

In a statement, BI officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma said that he has ordered their Computer Section chief Jollybert Galleon to study the creation of their own ID system for arriving and departing passengers.

“The Bureau needs to come up with a more economical and efficient mode of retrieving and encoding the data in the cards without entering into contracts with private companies that only tend to create controversies and problems for the bureau,” Ledesma said.

Galleon said the passport reading machines in the airports can be reconfigured to scan the arrival and departure cards.

Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the cancellation of the BI’s contract with e.Xtend Inc., the company that produces the cards distributed by the bureau to travelers who enter and leave the country.

The contract was ordered revoked after an advertisement of the clinic owned by celebrity cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicky Belo appeared on the card.

Earlier, e.Xtend Inc. placed the photograph of President Aquino on the card, which was immediately ordered pulled out of circulation when the President expressed displeasure with having his photograph on the cards.

e.Xtend Inc. director Charles Stephen Ng Sy said they continue to print the cards since they have not received a notice ordering them to stop.

Sy also said that they would clarify the legal issues with Ledesma in writing.

“In the letter we want to raise questions on the legalities. We went through the process so our legal team said we could go (through with the contract). We would not have entered into a contract for a long time and make a big investment if we knew that there was a problem,” Sy said.

The bureau entered into a 15-year contract with e.Xtend in 2009, during the term of Commissioner Marcelino Libanan.

Sy said they spend P1.80 to P1.90 for each card. Because they print 1.5 million copies a month, they spend P2.2 million every month.


http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=622530&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Is there a passport BOOK number on Phil passports? Not passport number ha. I'm applying for visa online and this is one of the data they need aside from the passport number itself. I tried searching DFA website but I can't seem to find any info re this. Any reply will be greatly appreciated. :)

None. Individual passport book numbers were phased out in 1986, when Philippine passports were redesigned after the fall of Marcos. The passport number in current passports fills the role of a passport book number.

LTO insists on paper driver’s license form
Tuesday, 02 November 2010 11:18 Jojo Perez / Correspondent


THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday insisted on the shift to a paper-based driver’s license form, saying that it is more durable and ecology-friendly than the present plastic credit card-type form.

LTO chief Virginia Torres said the agency “needs to move forward and aim for the better,” and shifting from the old plastic-type cards to paper-based driver’s license cards is one of the steps toward progress.

Plastic credit card-type licenses are now in use in all civilized countries.

“We are the end-user here, so we will fight for change, and we believe that the new paper-based plastic cards will be better than the old type of driver’s license cards,” Torres explained.

She, however, made it clear that the LTO is still trying to convince the Department of Transportation and Communications to accept the shift.

Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus earlier ordered the suspension of the bidding for the P500-million driver’s license card supply contract amid complaints that the bidding terms were “tailor-made” to favor one company.

De Jesus ordered the department’s lawyers and Torres to review the terms of reference of the contract and to assure that it is open to a wide selection of bidders with the best concepts and offers as possible.

At present, the driver’s license, card supplier of the LTO—Amalgamated Motors Philippines Inc.—has been operating by virtue of a quantum merit since its contract expired in 2003.

This is the reason Torres wanted the bidding for new driver’s license contractor to resume as soon as possible in order for the LTO to have a legitimate driver’s license form contractor.

“We want everybody to understand the importance of this bidding, as well as the reasons we want to shift from plastic to paper…we believe that such shift will benefit everybody,” she added.

The militant transport group Pagkakaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston) earlier objected the idea of the paper-based license because the group believes that it is less durable than plastic. Piston officials demanded an explanation for the shift to a paper-badsed license form when plastic cards have been proven durable and used by the majority of companies and government institution for their identification and security tags.

Piston has also questioned why the LTO is only doing this now, when it earlier admitted that the present contractor has been supplying cards without a valid contract since 2003.


http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/nation/3220-lto-insists-on-paper-drivers-license-form

^^^^

ipakita nila kung gaano ka-durable yang paper-based driver's license na yan para matapos na ang angilan.

^^ Pakita nga sila ng sample.

IMO, walang problema sa plastic license card ng LTO. Ang problema ay yung sa supplier/contractor ng plastic licenses nila. LTO was one of the first government agencies to be modernized at gumamit ng computerization pero gusto nila ibalik sa paper-based license. Labo. SSS nga credit card type na din.

LTO insists on paper driver’s license form
Tuesday, 02 November 2010 11:18 Jojo Perez / Correspondent


THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday insisted on the shift to a paper-based driver’s license form, saying that it is more durable and ecology-friendly than the present plastic credit card-type form.

LTO chief Virginia Torres said the agency “needs to move forward and aim for the better,” and shifting from the old plastic-type cards to paper-based driver’s license cards is one of the steps toward progress.

........>8 snipped.....



^^ :bash: Those guys should stop wasting taxpayer money by changing back the current plastic ID to paper based ID.

Paper based ID is prone to fraud and tampering unlike the present hologram plastic ID. If they want to change existing contractor then change only the existing supplier and not the ID format.

Is there a passport BOOK number on Phil passports? Not passport number ha. I'm applying for visa online and this is one of the data they need aside from the passport number itself. I tried searching DFA website but I can't seem to find any info re this. Any reply will be greatly appreciated. :)

are you applying for US visa?
i think some nationalities have this number. but should not be a requirement if you are a Filipino, bec as Sky Harbor said, we don't have this.

LTO insists on paper driver’s license form
Tuesday, 02 November 2010 11:18 Jojo Perez / Correspondent


THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday insisted on the shift to a paper-based driver’s license form, saying that it is more durable and ecology-friendly than the present plastic credit card-type form.

LTO chief Virginia Torres said the agency “needs to move forward and aim for the better,” and shifting from the old plastic-type cards to paper-based driver’s license cards is one of the steps toward progress.

Plastic credit card-type licenses are now in use in all civilized countries.

“We are the end-user here, so we will fight for change, and we believe that the new paper-based plastic cards will be better than the old type of driver’s license cards,” Torres explained.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/nation/3220-lto-insists-on-paper-drivers-license-form

^^^^

ipakita nila kung gaano ka-durable yang paper-based driver's license na yan para matapos na ang angilan.

^^ Pakita nga sila ng sample.

IMO, walang problema sa plastic license card ng LTO. Ang problema ay yung sa supplier/contractor ng plastic licenses nila. LTO was one of the first government agencies to be modernized at gumamit ng computerization pero gusto nila ibalik sa paper-based license. Labo. SSS nga credit card type na din.

^^ :bash: Those guys should stop wasting taxpayer money by changing back the current plastic ID to paper based ID.

Paper based ID is prone to fraud and tampering unlike the present hologram plastic ID. If they want to change existing contractor then change only the existing supplier and not the ID format.

According to LTO Chief, it is a paper based plastic card. Could it be plastic card but the raw materials are from paper?

there is this product they call "organic plastic." it is plant based but i am not sure if this is the same material they are talking about.

Increased slots for passport process sought
By ROY C. MABASA
November 25, 2010, 6:07pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) urged on Thursday the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to increase to 2,000 its daily slots for passport processing.

According to PTAA president Maria Paz Alberto with very limited slots, travel agencies will not be able to perform their duties and provide service to the public.

“Travel agencies also loose one of their main revenue streams,” Alberto pointed out in a statement.

PTAA currently has more than 400 member travel agencies nationwide.

“We believe it is only fair for the DFA to give us 2,000 slots daily,” Alberto added.

Alberto said that passport processing is one of the main services travel agencies offer.

“With very limited slots, earnings of travel agencies have taken a further hit especially after the introduction of web-based promos by airlines and hotels,” she said.

DFA Assistant Secretary Jaime Victor Ledda told the PTAA that they currently accommodate 4,600 individual applicants daily for passport processing. Out of the total, travel agencies are given 700 slots. “There is a need to increase capacity to absorb more applicants. We need more machines and to shift more people,” Ledda told the PTAA.

However, Alberto said the DFA already admitted that 31 percent of people scheduled for passport processing daily do not show up at the DFA facility inside the ASEAN Business Park in Paranaque City.

“Why not just give those slots to travel agencies? Filipinos love and have a need to travel. We want to assist them,” Alberto said.

Ledda said the DFA will open more Regional Consular Offices (RCO) in the country within the year while also increasing their mobile passport services.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/289443/increased-slots-passport-process-sought

^^I don't mind travel agencies getting the bulk of the passport applications because there are still too many people who don't know how to apply online and end up submitting incomplete documents, thus increasing their chances of falling prey to passport fixing syndicates and the like.

The value of a travel agent is avoiding mistakes, which is why they are paid a premium. If the travel agents can prescreen all of the applicant's documents, get an ideal time slot for the interview at the DFA consular office along Macapagal Blvd., then the few hundred pesos should be definitely worth the hassle.

On another note, does anyone know when the voters' IDs will be finally printed and sent to the registrants? We don't expect to see another election until 3 years from now so it's high time they finished the IDs (which was something they should have done even before the election in order to minimize the confusion that almost always happens).

^^ Pahabol na info po;

House eyes bill on 10-year passport (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=633488&publicationSubCategoryId=65)
(The Philippine Star)
Updated November 26, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives foreign affairs committee will most likely endorse a bill giving Filipinos the option of getting a passport valid for 10 years instead of the current five-year passport.

Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, committee chairman, said yesterday his panel supports his Bill 3435. “Most passport applicants are overseas Filipino workers. They should be given the choice of having passports with either a five-year or a 10-year validity,” he said.

He added that a 10-year passport should be available not only to overseas workers but to all applicants.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday to increase the passport processing quota allotted to travel agencies from 700 slots per day to 2,000 slots.

PTAA president Maria Paz Alberto said passport processing is one of the main services travel agencies offer, and “we have more than 400 member travel agencies nationwide. We believe it is only fair for the DFA to give us 2,000 slots daily.”

She said the DFA accommodates 4,600 individual applicants daily for passport processing. Out of this figure, travel agencies are given 700 slots. However, Alberto said the DFA admitted that 31 percent of people scheduled for passport processing each day – 1,426 out of 4,600 – do not show up.

“Why not just give those slots to travel agencies?” she said. – Jess Diaz, Pia Lee-Brago

^^ This will be very good. However, the DFA should look into this: improving the passport's design.

^^ Pahabol na info po;

House eyes bill on 10-year passport (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=633488&publicationSubCategoryId=65)
(The Philippine Star)
Updated November 26, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives foreign affairs committee will most likely endorse a bill giving Filipinos the option of getting a passport valid for 10 years instead of the current five-year passport.

Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, committee chairman, said yesterday his panel supports his Bill 3435. “Most passport applicants are overseas Filipino workers. They should be given the choice of having passports with either a five-year or a 10-year validity,” he said.

He added that a 10-year passport should be available not only to overseas workers but to all applicants.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday to increase the passport processing quota allotted to travel agencies from 700 slots per day to 2,000 slots.

PTAA president Maria Paz Alberto said passport processing is one of the main services travel agencies offer, and “we have more than 400 member travel agencies nationwide. We believe it is only fair for the DFA to give us 2,000 slots daily.”

She said the DFA accommodates 4,600 individual applicants daily for passport processing. Out of this figure, travel agencies are given 700 slots. However, Alberto said the DFA admitted that 31 percent of people scheduled for passport processing each day – 1,426 out of 4,600 – do not show up.

“Why not just give those slots to travel agencies?” she said. – Jess Diaz, Pia Lee-Brago
If they make passports valid for 10 years, they should also make ones with more than 64 pages for frequent flyers. Otherwise the frequent flyers will be lining up at the DFA every 3-5 years:lol:

In order to reduce the no-shows at the passport processing, they should impose a reservation fee of at least P500, which can be deducted from the total cost of the passport itself. While this may not completely eliminate the no-shows (some have last minute changes or accidents on the day itself), at least this will make the syndicates think twice about booking the reservations wholesale.

DOTC takes over P.5-billion driver's license deal (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=640844&publicationSubCategoryId=65)
By Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star) Updated December 20, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (6)

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has taken over from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) the task of holding a public bidding for the P500-million contract to supply next year’s driver’s license cards.

Sources at the LTO said agency officials were surprised by the DOTC’s creation of a special bids and awards committee (SBAC) to handle the supply, production and delivery of the driver’s license.

Sources said the takeover came about when DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus issued Order 36 last Oct. 27, where he ordered the creation of the SBAC to be chaired by his head executive assistant, DOTC Assistant Secretary Ildefonso Patdu Jr.

He said he formed the SBAC “to erase any doubt as to the legality and fairness of the would-be outcome of the bidding for the proposed project.”

De Jesus brushed off hints that there was anything irregular about their takeover of the bidding.

“The matter of the bidding of the driver’s license was discussed at the DOTC executive committee no less than two months ago. And... Torres was present in that meeting,” De Jesus said in a statement to transportation reporters.

In the two-page department order, De Jesus said the special committee was specifically formed to oversee the conduct of the bidding for the LTO’s P500-million supply contract for the driver’s license to be issued in 2011.

De Jesus had earlier ordered LTO chief Virginia Torres to defer the public bidding scheduled last September as a result of complaints by bidders that the terms of reference (TOR) issued by the LTO seemed to favor a particular bidder.

Torres’ directive to revert to paper-based license cards from the current plastic cards had also been questioned by bidders as well as public transport groups.

It was learned that one of the provisions of the TOR was that the driver’s licenses are to be “paper-based” and “environment-friendly.”

Another provision found to be highly irregular was certain specifications on the paper and printing requirements that tend to favor certain paper and printing suppliers.

“I asked the newly formed committee to come up with terms that are neutral and generic as to whether the material is plastic or paper, as long as the specifications meet certain performance criteria,” De Jesus said.

LTO insiders said the DOTC takeover of the bidding from Torres and the LTO reportedly indicates a rift with the LTO chief, who was reportedly “personally handpicked” by President Aquino.

Aside from Patdu, De Jesus has named DOTC Assistant Secretary George Esguerra as SBAC vice chairman. Members of the special committee are LTO executive director Redentor Reyes and directors Emil Ocfemia and Rebecca Cacatian.

De Jesus said after the SBAC is formed, “it shall immediately convene and create its technical working group that would draft, review, revise and finalize the terms of reference of the project.”

The committee is also authorized to prepare the bid documents, conduct pre-bid conference, issue bid bulletins, open bids and bid evaluation, conduct post qualification, issue notice of award, prepare and execute contract and issue notice to proceed.

The life and power of the special committee will cease once a winning bidder is finally selected, after which the LTO shall take over and ensure the proper implementation of the project, De Jesus said.

^^ Ang LTO Chief ba ay member ng isang influential religious group?

^^ Ang LTO Chief ba ay member ng isang influential religious group?

No knowledge on that. What does it have to do with his being LTO chief? I mean, does one's religion affect his/her function as chief LTO?

No knowledge on that. What does it have to do with his being LTO chief? I mean, does one's religion affect his/her function as chief LTO?
Well she is well known to PNoy, hence she has his vote of confidence. More info on Asec Virgie Torres ... http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/opinion/14515-new-lto-chief-a-good-choice.html

She rose from the ranks, is not perceived as corrupt, is God fearing, although may have some strategy issues with her boss, DOTC Secretary Ping de Jesus. And Asec Torres has been in the news lately because of what happened at the LTO Compound with Stradcom management tussles.

Australia has a 10 year, 64 page biometrics passport...

As for the design, individual pages have watermark illustrations of Australian's iconic images.

I have a question tho, China refuses to honor the green passport daw? Is this true?

If they make passports valid for 10 years, they should also make ones with more than 64 pages for frequent flyers. Otherwise the frequent flyers will be lining up at the DFA every 3-5 years:lol:

In order to reduce the no-shows at the passport processing, they should impose a reservation fee of at least P500, which can be deducted from the total cost of the passport itself. While this may not completely eliminate the no-shows (some have last minute changes or accidents on the day itself), at least this will make the syndicates think twice about booking the reservations wholesale. Another neat trick they have in Singapore is the use of airport immigration cards & immigration turnstiles. Just beside the immigration counters are rows of turnstiles similar to those you see on MRTs or train stations. Using the biometric technology, a singaporean citizen or permanent resident or holders of these cards do not have to queue at regular immigration counters. Instead they go to the turnstiles, they insert their cards or scan their biometric passports. The first gate opens. Then the 2nd & last gate is when you press on your thumb for the fingerprint verification. Once verified, a female voice welcomes you to Singapore and the last gate opens. Voila! No need for passport stamping and it's very fast.

^^ We have a similar one in Malaysia too. Except that we have only one station where we insert the passport and scan out thumbprint at the same time...

Another neat trick they have in Singapore is the use of airport immigration cards & immigration turnstiles. Just beside the immigration counters are rows of turnstiles similar to those you see on MRTs or train stations. Using the biometric technology, a singaporean citizen or permanent resident or holders of these cards do not have to queue at regular immigration counters. Instead they go to the turnstiles, they insert their cards or scan their biometric passports. The first gate opens. Then the 2nd & last gate is when you press on your thumb for the fingerprint verification. Once verified, a female voice welcomes you to Singapore and the last gate opens. Voila! No need for passport stamping and it's very fast.

Yeah, it is a very convenient system, i got to bypass long queues in singapore:banana: . I hope we get this kind of system within 15 years.

100,000 passports unclaimed at DFA

By Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 14:26:00 01/19/2011

MANILA, Philippines—Did you know that up to 100,000 passports processed by the Department of Foreign Affairs during the past six months remain unclaimed?

The department’s Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) has no recourse but to cancel and immediately discard the passports if they remain unclaimed "within six months from their scheduled release dates," DFA spokesman J. Eduardo Malaya said Wednesday.

"That is why, we are reminding all passport applicants to claim their passports, if possible, on their scheduled release dates," Malaya told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Some OCA old timers interviewed for this story said they were puzzled why some applicants go out of their way to secure passports, including lining up at passport processing offices as early as 4 a.m., but do not bother retrieving the same travel documents on their release dates.

"It just doesn't make sense," said an OCA staff member.

Malaya noted that "through the receipts issued to them, passport applicants are fully aware when their passports will be released."

"They are also informed by consular personnel that the OCA can hold the passports for only a brief period of time after the normal processing period. Nonetheless, many applicants claim their passports after the due date while some forget about the passports altogether," he said.

Last year, the DFA issued a total of 1,583,183 passports, 677,406 of which were processed at the new OCA building, located at the corner of Macapagal and Bradco Avenues in Aseana Business Park (near the Mall of Asia) in Parañaque City.

Another 733,244 passports were issued by the 18 regional consular offices nationwide while the rest came from the country's 94 embassies and consulates abroad.

The DFA charges P950, or $21.40 for the "regular processing" of a passport, which runs for 20 working days.

For a fee of P1,200, passport processing can be expedited to only 10 working days.

The same passport, however, costs $60 (about P2,658) when issued at Philippine diplomatic missions abroad.

It is "higher because of transport and logistics costs plus the higher rates for personnel services and utilities" in the foreign diplomatic missions, Malaya explained.

Malaya advised overseas Filipino workers to avail themselves of the lower passport fee by getting the travel document in the country.

DFA statistics showed that more than 70 percent of applicants got their passports in Manila and other key cities where the agency's regional consular offices are based.

Earlier in a statement, the DFA described the Philippine passport processing fee as "one of the lowest in Asia, if not the world."

The fee is "way below those of other Asian countries, including Japan ($180), Cambodia ($120), Malaysia ($97), Singapore ($52), Brunei Darussalam ($37), and Thailand ($33)."

The Philippine passport also costs much less than its counterparts in the US ($110) and Canada ($86).

Passport applicants are no longer required to bring photographs when applying for the "ePassport," which the DFA started issuing in late 2009, since they will have their pictures taken using ePassport data-capturing machines at the processing centers.

However, they still need to bring other necessary requirements, such as the application form which is available for download from the agency website and at DFA offices.

From 2007 to 2009, the DFA issued 3.82 million machine-readable passports, or MRPs.

But with the introduction of the state-of-the-art ePassport, the agency "raised its standard one level more above the MRPs with an embedded microchip containing data essential in verifying the passport holder's identity, personal data, biometrics, and digital signature," Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo pointed out.

"The chip can be read by any standard (passport) machine reader in border controls worldwide. It features a hidden and coded technology that allows the encoding of the holder's name and passport number on the passport photo," said Romulo.

With the ePassport, "we can join the exclusive club of countries issuing ePassports, including Japan, South Korea, India, Hong Kong, China, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the US," he added.

Meanwhile, the DFA's passport processing operations will be suspended next Saturday (January 22) to allow the Office of Consular Affairs to "conduct a systems maintenance check."

"Passport applicants with scheduled OCA appointments on January 22 will be accommodated for processing on any working day between January 24 and February 17," said the DFA's Public Information Service Unit.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110119-315374/100000-passports-unclaimed-at-DFA

Somebody here can explain me why politicians never agreed to make a national ID card for citizen ? What was their arguments ? Because within internet hard to find the last time I tried.

^^^^

one simple reason given is the so-called "invasion of privacy." :)

^^ We have a similar one in Malaysia too. Except that we have only one station where we insert the passport and scan out thumbprint at the same time...Yeah, it is a very convenient system, i got to bypass long queues in singapore:banana: . I hope we get this kind of system within 15 years.Somebody here can explain me why politicians never agreed to make a national ID card for citizen ? What was their arguments ? Because within internet hard to find the last time I tried. I know what you mean and I fully support a national identity card.
^^^^

one simple reason given is the so-called "invasion of privacy." :) In this day and age, I reckon younglings surrender more and more of their privacy with each application they yield to Facebook and similar sites whose tentacles are far-reaching. And they even do it unknowingly. :lol:

Whereas with identity cards, the information is strictly limited to entry and exit at immigration counters so the case for invasion of privacy is rather lame compared to the vast reach of Facebook and personal blogs. :lol:

^^^^

one simple reason given is the so-called "invasion of privacy." :)

ayaw nila pero todo post naman ng updates esp. pictures sa facebook.
hehe

^^ Oo nga. Mas maiinvade pa ata privacy mo sa FB. :lol:

Sana marevive yung proposal ng national ID card...huwag nalang bigyan yung mga asa Kaliwa. :lol:

national id cards consists of NAME,address,like the passport,they oppose becase once there was a national id card it is required in every institutions like HOTEL YUNG MGA KABIT NILA MALALAMAN NG ASAWA NILA NA NAG CHECK IN SILA

ID system would be the most effective security measures once implemented....makakatulong ang ganito sa paghuli ng mga taong may kasalanan sa batas. Bawat travellers kailangan magpakita ng residence ID sa pagkuha ng ticket at iba pang transactions lalo't higit sa mga bangko, remitance center atbp.

^^ Oo nga. Mas maiinvade pa ata privacy mo sa FB. :lol:

Sana marevive yung proposal ng national ID card...huwag nalang bigyan yung mga asa Kaliwa. :lol:

national id cards consists of NAME,address,like the passport,they oppose becase once there was a national id card it is required in every institutions like HOTEL YUNG MGA KABIT NILA MALALAMAN NG ASAWA NILA NA NAG CHECK IN SILA

Actually, the idea of national ID is not really new. In the US, the social security is some sort of a national ID. They are required in government transactions, employment, opening up bank accounts, credit card accounts and utility accounts. We are living in the dangerous times and it's about time to sacrifice some of these privacy privileges for the sake of national security.

Some would argue that the system will be subject to abuses like identity theft and invasion of privacy. However, the benefit of such system in other countries outweigh its disadvantages such as helping the authorities in solving crimes much faster, convenience with respect to transactions with the government and weeding out criminal and terrorist organizations operating within the country.

If the government embarks in the national id program, a great way to start is taking account of those records in National Statistics Office.

^^^^

one simple reason given is the so-called "invasion of privacy." :)

time will come,,,maybe after 8 years or 10,,,all countries of this earth is enforced to have a national id through western europe invasion and supremacy...walang taguan:ohno:

^^^^

one simple reason given is the so-called "invasion of privacy." :)

hahaha nakakatawa naman kung yan yung irereason out nila..... with the advent of social networking.... may privacy pa ba??

and i read of some articles yung important biographic data lang naman ang nakalagay sa national ID plan...

:nuts:

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SSS to issue new IDs

By Iris Gonzales (The Philippine Star)
Updated February 21, 2011 12:00 AM
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=659469&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Social Security System (SSS) is expected to roll out a new government identification card in the first half of the year.

SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros Jr. said they are rushing the release of the new ID cards so as not to further cause undue inconvenience to members.

“We are already working on that,” De Quiros said.

He said the project was started during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and is just being carried out by the Aquino administration.

The SSS suspended its ID production last April 2010 after its card printing machines, which were acquired back in 1998, broke down.

“The SSS has stopped producing ID cards since April 2010 as the intention is to replace the old SSS ID with the Unified Multi-Purpose ID or UMID,” De Quiros explained.

The cards will be rolled out in partnership with the Philippine Postal Corp., the Government Service Insurance System and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

“We are finalizing preparations for the implementation of a new SSS ID system to upgrade the old one. We expect SSS ID production to resume on April 2011,” De Quiros said.

SSS has authorized PhilPost to enroll SSS members under the UMID through data capture stations that the postal service agency will set up all over the country.

Under the agreement, PhilPost will capture biometric data such as fingerprints, facial image and signature for the issuance of ID cards under the nationwide system.

PhilPost will set up the data capture workstations at SSS branches and postal offices nationwide.

The government said UMID aims to reduce costs to the public by doing away with multiple ID cards and redundant databases. The SSS was tasked as lead implementing agency due to its experience in managing a large-scale biometric ID system.

The UMID card will enable SSS members to get payments for pensions, loans and benefits through PhilPost’s nationwide network of about 2,200 post offices, more than half of which also function as money transfer offices at present.

The shift to the UMID upgrades the present SSS ID system, which has been using the same card technology since it was introduced over a decade ago.