Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has vowed to uncover supposedly legal loopholes in the passport printing sub-contract between APO Productions Inc. and a private firm as soon he arrives from Russia next week. Cayetano, who joined President Rodrigo Duterte’ entourage to Russia last Monday, wants to know if there is overpricing in passport charges. Some say the cost should not be more than P650: booklet, P200; microchip, P100; ink and bookbinding, P100; and P250, overtime charges. Despite the opinion of Panelo, the DFA did nothing to stop the passport printing deal with UGEC. Cayetano, however, does not want to compromise the 17,000 Filipinos applying for passport issuance on a daily basis.

Source: Manila Times May 23, 2017 10:18 UTC