The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has opened up more passport appointment slots starting this week up to December 2022.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Wednesday said at least 803,000 slots were made available as part of DFA’s efforts to improve current consular services.

On top of this, the DFA is planning to open around 300,000 more slots before the end of the year, he added.

In a DFA event in Parañaque City, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Henry Bensurto Jr. said slots were only good for two weeks prior to the opening of more than 800,000 appointment slots.

“I think it was very important to stretch, streamline and tinker the process, the system itself to allow us to open the slots all the way to December. So that’s how we were able to do it essentially,” he told reporters.

Aside from easing the passport backlog, the DFA also unveiled on Wednesday its refurbished facilities in Aseana, including new escalators and elevators. (PNA)