Machine-readable passports now issued at DFA GenSan
Bariles recently renewed his passport and eventually received his new machine-readable copy, thanks to the Department of Foreign Affairs Consular Office here in General Santos City, headed by Mr. Daniel Te.
This is how the old and the new versions look, side by side.
The old Philippine passports have green covers while the new version shifted to maroon. Other than that, the new passport is now machine-readable. Meaning, the data on the identity page (which has been moved from the Inside Back Cover to Page 2) is encoded on optical recognition format.
This is more advantageous for international travelers due to the faster processing of their arrival at airports by immigration officials. No more long slow queues this time because the immigration staff would only have to swipe the passports’ identity pages on their machines.
It’s actually very easy now to apply for a MRP (Machine-Readable Passport).
If you’re in GenSan, just go to their office beside the Big Chow Restaurant which is adjacent to Shakey’s inside the Gaisano Mall compound.
Inside the spacious, white-washed office, you may wait for your turn before you report to the table under a sign which says STEP 1 manned by Ms. Edel Mae Patugan. You may then show her your documents.
If you are renewing your passport, these are the things you need to give to Ms. Edel for verification:
- Photocopy first two and last two pages of old Passport;
- Photocopy all stamped pages (all travel, arrivals, departures, visas, etc.);
- Bring any two documents to support your Middle Name:
- Voter’s Affidavit
- Driver’s License
- Baptismal Certificate
- GSIS Policy/SSS E-1 Form
- PRC/Postal ID
- NBI Clearance
- Government Service Record
- Seaman’s Book
- Income Tax Return
- 3 pieces Passport sized ID pictures (4.5cm x 3.5cm) colored picture with Royal Blue background
- Processing Fees: 64 pages – P750
If you are applying for a new passport, then submit these for verification to Ms. Edel:
- Authenticated Birth Certificate
- Authenticated Marriage Contract (for married women & minors only)
- OMA Certification (for Muslims only)
- Any 2 of the following docs to support your Middle Name:
- Voter’s Affidavit
- Driver’s License
- Baptismal Certificate
- GSIS Policy/SSS E-1 Form
- PRC or Postal ID
- NBI Clearance
- Government Service Recort
- Seaman’s Book
- Income Tax Return
- 3 pcs. Passport Sized ID pictures – (45 cmx3.5cm) colored pic with royal Blue Background)
- Processing Fee: 64 pages – P850
After your docs have been verified and approved, proceed to the table under the sign which says STEP 2 and submit them to Ms. Helen Grace Acharon for processing.
You may then approach Mr. Eric Camina at a table behind her under the sign STEP 3 for the encoding of your data.
Then, proceed to the Cashier’s Table for payment of the Processing Fees to Ms. April Joy Afinido.
Easy and simple right? Now come back two weeks after to get your new (MRP) machine-readable passport from the cheerful and helpful Mr. Elmor Maglunsod at the 2nd floor. Two weeks, no more, no less. 
Related posts:
- About Bariles
- GenSan is 3rd Mindanao city to host National Book Store
- OLPGV Parish and GenSan Camera Club’s “Bahay ni Maria Photo Exhibit”
- GenSan’s Alliance Tuna opening new P60million processing plant
- GenSan’s 2008 income puts it in the Billionaires Club! Economy grows 12.7%!
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Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
dimple Says:
go!go!go! GENSAN!..
manguha nah ta passport! and go check out my blog on how to EARN WHILE YOU LEARN IN THE UK!
dimples last blog post..Earn while you Learn in the UK!
Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Nate Marx Says:
Mas dadami pupunta sa Gensan nito..hehehe
Nate Marxs last blog post..Online Memorial for Ali Bongo
Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 7:57 PM
rissa Says:
wow!salamat sa news. ive bin asking mah frendz about passport info coz my parents nid to have it asap.para nman mabisita na nila ako d2.huhuhuhu. mis ko na cla.
pede po magtanong? ilang mos./days po ba ang processing ng new passport?
ps. its gud to know as well na nakauwi na pala c helen acharon, and finally decided to work in our city after studying at taiwan.
hmmmmmmm. dis site is not only entertaining but also very informative!
salamapot po ng marami. God bless!
Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Daxi Weida Says:
This is very good news especially for people here in South Cotabato. No need to go to Davao no more. Hope DFA Gensan can also provide delivery service, like in Davao where for PhP100 a contracted private courier will deliver your passport right at your doorstep in 2 weeks, wherever you are in Mindanao. Malaking tipid.
Daxi Weidas last blog post..Blue Haven in Banga, South Cotabato
Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 9:42 PM
anynomouse :) Says:
@Rissa, informative nga ang site na ito. basaha usab ang post ni Manoy Avel. Nasa last line yung sagot sa tanong mo. What kind of eyes do you “has”? ajejeje
anynomouse
s last blog post..Noong ako’y bubuwit pa
Posted on March 19th, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Amie Says:
Mabuti naman, Generals don’t have to go to davao para kumuha ng passport. GenSan is really moving fast, marami ng bago. Thank you
Bariles for keeping us posted about what’s going on in our beloved hometown…
Amies last blog post..Does Love Fade?
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 7:01 AM
bariles Says:
@dimple – Hahaha! May advertisement na pang-segue ha?
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 7:24 AM
bariles Says:
@Nate, that is right! People as far as Zamboanga will be flocking to the city for this. Only Davao and GenSan has DFA Consular Offices in Mindanao yata. Don’t know with CDO.
@rissa, thanks for your kind words. As Anynomouse quipped earlier, Two weeks is needed for processing of the new MRP’s. Go tell your parents about it asap. Happy reunion!
@Daxi, hi! That’s a good suggestion. No hassles of going back to the DFA once you have filed everything. Will ask Mr. Dan Te about this. Salamat for the tip my friend. San-o ka pauli dre?
@Anynomouse, ikaw na ged.
@Amie, thanks and many more thanks. We’re moving so fast that Bariles Republic could harldy keep up with the positive changes. God is good to us!
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Rhey Bacani Says:
Time to leave Gensan, kuha na ng passport byahi na tau
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 7:55 AM
donna mae Says:
WOW again another informative and very helpful post manoy avel!!! i have been there also very very easy lang talaga kumuha ng passport one hour lang finish na ung 3steps mo. pero sana next time doon may aircon na hehehe kasi hapon kami pumunta doon parang sauna hahaha pero i understand kasi bago pa lang talaga ang office nila. They are helping a lot of people in soksargen mas convenient and malapit lang..
donna maes last blog post..Dinner w/ Ms. Earth 2008 winners
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Rue Ramas Says:
Sa wakas! I will forward your blog to all Socsargen friends.
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 3:24 PM
sheng Says:
When you get back to their office to claim your new MRP, say hi to the talented Elmor Maglunsod, he is the one in charge for the releasing of your passport. You have to go up the second floor for that. But take note, you may only get the passport on the day it was schedule to be released, or days after that. Don’t waste your time going there ahead of schedule.
shengs last blog post..A Different High… On a Saturday Gone By (Part1)
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 4:00 PM
bariles Says:
@Rue Ramas – Thanks Rue. That would be great.
@donna mae – Hi Donna. Medyo mainit nga pero they have electric fans naman daw. Hahaha! Seriously, according to Mr. Dan Te, their OIC, they are only waiting for their units to be delivered. So there…
@Rhey Bacani – Hi Rhey! Don’t forget to write.
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 4:01 PM
bariles Says:
@sheng – Thanks for this reminder! I forgot to mention the guy who is so friendly and efficient with his job, despite the stuffiness of the upstairs room. Kudos to Sir Dan Te’s staff!
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Toinks Says:
Mr. Bariles mayroon pong DFA Regional Consular Offices at Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro cities…I fact before DFA had its Regional Consular Office here at General Santos City, all passport applications and renewals for Region 12 are being served at CDO office.
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 4:14 PM
chariz Says:
tenk u very much for this article! very useful info’s! kip it up mr. bariles! u’ve got a very useful, informative & entertaining online mag!
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 4:44 PM
bariles Says:
@Toinks, thanks for the info. But it’s the DFA Davao people who administer the mobile passporting in GenSan every quarter.
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
white knight Says:
Talagang convenient sa mga taga Generals and also its neighboring municipalities and cities. Congrats and Hope your service will always be excellent!
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 5:16 PM
dimple Says:
hihihi.. sige lang gud bossing!
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Psyche Says:
I am loving our city more and more!
Malaki ang matitipid instead of goint to Davao.
Sir Avel, naku without your blog news lang tungkol GSC malalamat ko and not the things that I could benefit from
Ay nakakabenfit rin naman sa news pero di ba yung info dito mas swak hehehe
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 8:37 PM
tanchi Says:
wow..travelling outside is made easier:D
tanchis last blog post..Pooh and K Live in Gensan
Posted on March 20th, 2009 at 10:49 PM
bariles Says:
@white knight, actually the whole of South Central Mindanao will benefit from this service. Galing, di ba?
@dimple, no problem oi. Basta ikaw…
@Psyche, thanks. Join ka sa mga EB natin. Medyo nawala ka after the MBS2.
@tanchi, that is right. Now you can go to Japan and be an anime artist.
Posted on March 21st, 2009 at 8:25 AM
bariles Says:
@chariz, you are very welcome. You might as well subscribe to my feeds.
Posted on March 21st, 2009 at 8:27 AM
Ruben Says:
GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO GENSAN and Make a difference!
Posted on March 21st, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Jehzeel Laurente Says:
wow! ako, wala pa intawun koy passport ani.. hehe
Jehzeel Laurentes last blog post..BS4 to BS8 IQ Puzzles
Posted on March 21st, 2009 at 10:15 PM
jojo Says:
@bariles –
FYI…
DFA Regional Office In Mindanao
1. Zamboanga City
2. CDO
3. Davao City
4. Gensan City–Recently..
Posted on March 22nd, 2009 at 4:08 PM
hamid of dubai Says:
hello po…i want to be a member of this blog…i mean gusto palagi mag leave ng message but how?….paano ba ako maging member?… taga gensan po ako pero palagi kong binabasa tong site na ito para ma update of whats new in gensan.thanks po
Posted on March 22nd, 2009 at 8:09 PM
hamid of dubai Says:
This is my first time to comment or message…..honestly im very happy of what is now happening to our city, the development it has ….this site really contain information that is a must to read for the generals specially those who are abroad in order for them to keep update of their city…paano po maglagay ng sariling picture?…thnaks to the author
Posted on March 22nd, 2009 at 8:12 PM
rissa Says:
hahahahaha. pahiya naman ako. sobrang naexcite po kasi, di ko na yata tinapos ang pagbabasa. kakatuwa tlga ang site nato.hehehe
ang bilis pala, 2 weeks lang tsaka mura pa, and friendly pa talga ang mga staffs ha. unlike here, very opposite. mahal na masusungit pa ang mga staffs, at ang tagal pa. magreklamo ba sa site.pasenxa na po.
salamat po ulit. God bless po!
Posted on March 22nd, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Ache Says:
Masyado lang mainit sa ofc nila! I hope they do something about it fast, coz a lot of people flock there everyday…
Just renewed my passport, it’s really good that we don’t have to travel to Davao na…
Kudos to Bariles for giving us very informative, useful news!
Posted on March 22nd, 2009 at 11:32 PM
rammyboi Says:
wow! dri na lng ko parenew… 2011 pa man ako expiration sa passport
rammybois last blog post..Total Laugh Out Loud
Posted on March 27th, 2009 at 1:02 AM
goldy love balingit Says:
sir/maam
pwidi na makuha pstport kahit dito sa mindanao kumuha nang pastport
Posted on April 4th, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Sleepless In KL Says:
That is such wonderful news. I was so stressed when I had to renew my passport last Feb at the Phil Embassy in KL. They had to send everything for processing in Manila, hence it took 4 weeks for me to get my new passport.
Sleepless In KLs last blog post..You Know It’s A Bad Sign…
Posted on April 6th, 2009 at 1:58 PM
orman Says:
galeeennnggg! sige i will have my old passport changed na… kasi nung pumunta ako ng india nakasimangot ang immigration officer kasi hindi pa machine-readable ang passport ko noon so he had to type all my information sa computer nya… mental note: dapat by may 2009 meron na akong machine-readable passport!
ormans last blog post..Pussywillows Cattails by Kenny Rankin
Posted on April 11th, 2009 at 5:37 AM
princess Says:
mon to sat ba working days ninyo jan?
Posted on April 17th, 2009 at 6:15 PM
nicainavarro Says:
Wow..this is a good news!!!!
gusto ko na umuwi sa gensan!!!
Posted on May 7th, 2009 at 8:03 PM
sharon Says:
good morning,
ask lang po ako nawala ko ang pastport ko but then may xerox copy ako sa pastport ko ano ba requirements na kailangan ko dalhin para sa renewal?
salamat.
GOD BLESS
SHARON
Posted on July 15th, 2009 at 10:24 AM
mabes Says:
Salamat naman at may DFA na ang Gensan at least di na kami pupunta ng Davao.
Posted on November 17th, 2009 at 6:49 AM
Rico Says:
Bloody hell… dami namang requirements nyan. Sa requirements pa lang isang libo na ang gagastosin mo.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Rico Says:
Mas maganda sana kung airconditioned ang place kasi malaki ang kinikita ng DFA. Parang halo-haloan sa palengke lang kasi ang dating… Maganda pa ngayon kasi bagong pinta pa, after 1 year, parang balbakwahan na yan.
Posted on November 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 PM
aerica Says:
thank u kaau! bwas lakat na tani ko davao, mau lang nagbasa-basa anay ko sa net! thnx man kay earl valdez sa info..makatipid na ta sa pamasahe kag sa lau nga travel.
Posted on January 6th, 2010 at 11:27 PM
bariles Says:
@aerica, you are welcome, friend. Ayo-ayo.
Posted on January 6th, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Adeline Grace Says:
hello po, 2wiks po ba talaga yong pinakamadali para kumuha ng passport?
Posted on April 24th, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Adeline Grace Says:
repz naman po..tnx
Posted on April 24th, 2010 at 11:09 AM
joy Says:
gud eve! ask me lng po sana kung anong mga requirements, married po me dati separated n po! passport for singleness po, mag change me… ano po ba ang dapat me gawin? tnx
Posted on April 27th, 2010 at 9:08 PM
e-Passports now issued at DFA Consular Office-GenSan | GenSan News Online Mag Says:
[...] in March 2009 when Bariles blogged about the same office issuing him a machine-readable passport (Click here for that report.) in place of the old manually-scripted passport? Now it seems that the MRP, altho accepted [...]
Posted on May 17th, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Julie Ann Says:
mam/sir
i would like to ask regarding on processing passport. were 1 of the travel agencies here in gensan, passporting is one of our services offered and were not already accredit in your office. what are the requirements need to be accrited in your office so that i can process passport of my clients?
thank you. hoping for your response.
Julie Ann Bendijo
Infoteck reservation-gensan
Posted on July 14th, 2010 at 5:14 PM