And if you're from Region 3, then you don't have much problems in getting a passport or to renew one. Because the lines are not long, less hassle and the atmosphere was really good. The area is not crowded and because it's inside a mall, everything you need (food, drinks etc) is within your reach...
I'm one of the Pinoy passport holder who once experienced the hassle and frustration on getting a passport when I was 14 years old. As a minor, I really have no idea what, where and how to start. But thanks to my father, he accompanied me.. And unfortunately, we were told to go back the other day because we reached the closing time and still on the line.. So, it took us two days to get me a passport... because of looooong lines, plus the crowded area, the atmosphere (hot weather) and you being hungry (coz food's not allowed inside)
5 years have passed and my passport is going to expire soon. I'm getting a new one for some personal reasons :)
Nonetheless, thanks to DFA in Robinsons Pampanga. :)
We waited outside the mall 'til 10 am (mall hours) then go straight to DFA (located in the second floor). We asked the guard where to renew our passports and he gave us an application form and sit in the lined chairs outside the office. So we fill up the application forms and gave them to the guard after and for a few minutes, the guard gave us a number stapled in our application forms and allowed us to go inside the PROCESSING section...
As we go inside, there are several people waiting but it's not really crowded. I think the crowd was only less than 20 persons including us. So we wait for our numbers to be flashed in the monitor above in the corner. But before anything else, the guard always reminds us and to those applicants to get a photocopy of the 1st page and last page of our passports, our IDs (in our case) And as the numbers flashed in the screen, the process was about 5-10 minutes because our requirements were complete and besides, we're only applying for a passport renewal so all you need to bring is your expiring / expired passport, valid IDs (atleast 3), birth certificate (supporting document only, if necessary. just bring it so you won't bother if there's a problem with your personal info), and photocopies of these documents.
Then we proceed to the PAYMENT for the fee. 950php for regular and 1,200 for rush. No long line, so, yes, it's really hassle-free!
And then, we didn't wait so long in the ENCODING section, where we will get ourselves photographed for the passport picture, because right after we payed the fee, our numbers were already flashed in the monitor above. It took us 10 minutes in the encoding section, just make sure you get your personal information in correct spelling... then pooof! Everything's done!
But in our case, we proceed to the Courier Section (just opposite of the encoding section) because we decided to get our released passports via LBC. So we fill-up forms and pay 120php for each passports...
And that ends everything. In less than an hour, we get our passports renewed!
