TRAVEL agencies in the country are now assured that their revenue stream will remain intact after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) retracted an earlier order allowing the sector to only process passport renewals.
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), with over 500 member-travel agencies across the country and a key partner of the government in growing the country’s travel and tourism industry, lauded the DFA decision after holding continuous discussions that started in the fourth quarter of 2016.
PTAA President Marlene Jante said even with the business operations of travel agencies evolving, processing of passports remains an important part of the services their members offer.
“Passport processing, both for new applicants and renewals, contributes at least 15 percent to a travel agency’s revenue mix. You take it out and the government puts a lot of them, especially the small-sized travel agencies, at risk of closing operations,” Jante said.
“We are grateful to DFA Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Frank Cimafranca for understanding the impact of passport processing to travel agencies. This is not just a victory for the PTAA and its members but for other travel agencies affiliated with other organizations, as well,” she said.
Since 2008 PTAA members have been handling anywhere between 1,200 and 1,800 passport-processing applications daily.
Since assuming office in January, Jante said she has been following up on regular dialogues with the DFA, started by her predecessor Maria Michelle Reyes-Victoria, to ensure travel agencies’ rights to process passport applications remain.
“Before other travel organizations voiced their concerns, we were already working quietly with the DFA to resolve the issue. We have always maintained our mandate fostering unity in the travel industry, while also promoting the welfare of its stakeholders and the traveling public,” Jante said.
Jante added that, under the implementing rules and regulations of the Passport Act of 1996, travel agencies are legally allowed to process passport applications and ensure that all documents submitted are true, correct, genuine and authentic.
“We made our position clear and the DFA realized we were correct. There is a prescreening process and travel agencies are liable if they fail to submit the proper documents to them,” she said.
Jante added the PTAA will continue to work closely with the DFA to ensure all Filipinos own a passport.
The PTAA has been one of the constant resource groups both Houses of Congress have approached towards a possible amendment to the Passport Act that will extend passport validity to 10 years.