By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) released an advisory last Friday (Sept. 17) declaring the extended temporary closure of the National Capital Region (NCR) central consular offices (CO) in Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City and in Robinsons Place, Calasiao, Pangasinan.
“The DFA advises the public that the operations of DFA CO NCR Central, located in Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City, and DFA CO in Calasiao, located at Robinsons Place Pangasinan, which were suspended from Sept. 13 to 17, are further suspended until Sept. 24,” the advisory said.
According to the advisory, both COs had infected personnel, and those who have been exposed as close contacts are in isolation and quarantine, pursuant to the guidelines imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the Department of Health (DOH).
The CO in Calasiao will resume its regular operations on Monday (Sept. 27).
“Affected applicants for this period will receive an email providing them the details of their alternative passport appointment. For CO Calasio affected applicants, a new passport appointment schedule will be received from rcocalasiao@yahoo.com,” the advisory said.
“The DFA requests the public’s continued understanding as it adheres to the prescribed measures against the COVID-19 pandemic for the safety of personnel and applicants. Likewise, the DFA urges applicants to only refer to the official DFA platforms for announcements and updates,” it added.
For queries about passport application, the public may refer to the following numbers or email addresses once the consular offices reopen:
CO NCR Central: (02)8631-0806/(02)8631-0700, ncrcentral.so@dfa.gov.ph
CO Calasiao: (075)632-7892/(075)632-7932/+63-908-812-7124, calasiao.rco@dfa.gov.ph and rcocalasiao@yahoo.com – jlo
