DFA’s courtesy lane

Beginning August, employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs can only refer or endorse immediate family members to the Courtesy Lane, a special section provided to service the consular needs of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, overseas Filipino workers, solo parents, children seven years old and below, and pregnant passport applicants. In a memorandum for all DFA employees issued last July 31, Civilian Security and Consular Concerns Undersecretary Jose Luis G. Montales noted the significant increase in the number of applicants at the Courtesy Lane which is now handling “80 percent more applicants than it can handle in one day.” He said around 45 percent of applicants are endorsed by DFA employees. “Immediate family members include the grandparents, parents, parents-in-law, spouse, siblings, children and grandchildren of the DFA employee.