MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA) will suspend the processing of passport applications from March 16 to April 14 in Metro Manila, which has been placed under community quarantine, except those of individuals with “urgent needs,” such as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and those seeking medical treatment overseas. “The temporary arrangement is in accordance with the stringent social distancing measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) effective March 15,” the DFA said in a statement on Saturday. ADVERTISEMENTThe President announced on Thursday that Metro Manila has been placed under community quarantine to prevent the spread of the dreaded new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Passport applicants with confirmed appointments from March 9 and who were not able to show up during their appointment due to COVID-19 concerns will be accommodated from April 15 until May 29 during regular office hours, except on Saturdays. For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 14, 2020 21:45 UTC