* DFA’s Authentication Division moves back to main building in Pasay

[Kano]

DFA’s Authentication Division moves back to main building in Pasay


Balita.ph May 21, 2010

MANILA, May 20 —On May 24, the Authentication Division of the Office of Consular Affairs (OCA) will move back its operations to the main building of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Pasay City.

The DFA did not give reasons for the retreat, but it has been observed that the new OCA building is not spacious enough for the daily scores of applicants wanting their documents authenticated at its second floor area.

The processing of passport applications and visas and other non-authentication activities continue to be handled at the OCA building at the ASEANA Business Park on Macapagal Boulevard near the SM Mall of Asia.

With about 2,500 passports applications processed daily at the OCA building, the crowd on the ground floor swells up the population and hustle-bustle on ASEANA, causing traffic jams and fraying nerves.

DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo said OCA looks to processing of at least 3,500 applications daily in the near future.

OCA moved out of the Pasay building to its own exclusive new site in March this year. (PNA)