Santa Barbara, Iloilo successfully hosts Iloilo's first PASSPORT ON WHEELS

The municipality of Santa Barbara recently hosted "Passport On Wheels", a mobile passport processing service of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Consular Services Division held last Nov. 3 to 5, 2022.

Held at the Sta. Barbara Municipal Covered Gym, the 3-day "Passport On Wheels" had 1,520 SUCCESSFUL applicants from almost 2,000 applications received during the pre-registration period.

The D.F.A.Manila POW Team was headed by DFA Assistant Secretary Henry Bensurto Jr. and Sta. Barbara's very own Santiago "Sonny" Sucaldito, who was recently promoted as Consular Officer.

Mayor Dennis Superficial welcomes the DFA Passport On Wheels team to Santa Barbara, Iloilo

The Santa Barbara LGU Team was headed by Mayor Dennis Superficial and Municipal Tourism Officer Irene Magallon.

Mayor Dennis leads the passport applicants
on Day 1 of the Passport On Wheels

The Santa Barbara POW Program was on "first-come, first-served basis” through a pre-registration wherein applicants have to be verified first then given a specific date and time for personal appearance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

With on-line passport application often fully booked and takes months to open up available slots, Passport On Wheels was a welcome development and a big help to the Ilonggos in saving time, money and effort as some have to travel to other cities and regions just to avail of application slots.

As hundreds of Santa Barbaranhons and residents of nearby towns and cities succesfully applied or renewed their passports through Iloilo's first-ever "Passport On Wheels" Program, the Santa Barbara LGU is planning to have this mobile passport processing an annual activity as part of the Kahilwayan Festival serving as meaningful public service event to its constituents.

Sonny Sucaldito (4th from left) accepts the Plaque of Appreciation in behalf of the DFA Passport On Wheels team

Closing his speech last Monday during the LGUs flag ceremony, Consular Officer Sonny Sucaldito shared the possibility of opening a DFA office in Santa Barbara in the years to come.

As part of the government’s commitment to bring its services closer to the people, the DFA continues to partner with interested local government units including schools and other organizations to provide mobile passport services.

The passport on wheels service or mobile passport program can be availed by sending a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs of the DFA via email at oca.passport.mps@dfa.gov.ph.

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