International travel demands that passports be interoperable. The International Civil Aviation Organization already requires that all its 188 member nations issue machine-readable passports, on their standard, by 2010.

PINOYS DON'T HAVE TO GO TO WASHINGTON DC, ANYMORE

12/6/2008 Perfecto Sobejana

Whatever obstacle blocks our way or whatever difficulty immobilizes us, our prayer of FAITH can remove it all.

Philippine Diplomatic officials in Washington, DC recently declared that the Philippine Embassy is now accepting applications for the new Machine Readable Passports (MRP) whether for renewal of passport or for applying the first time. This is in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization requirement. This so-called "personal appearance" MRP rule requires applicants to sign and affix their thumbmarks in front of a consular official. Ambassador Gaa said that in order to help bring services closer to our "kababayan's" in the U. S. they are tapping honorary consuls. Those Filipinos desiring renewal of their passports can mail their applications to the Philippine Embassy, Washington, D.C., and they will print computer generated forms that will be mailed to the honorary consuls. The Philippines has consular offices in Honolulu, Hawaii; San Francisco and LA, California; Chicago, Illinois; New York City and Washington, D.C. Our Diplomatic officials said that "for those living in the State of Georgia and Florida, applicants can go to the honorary consul and affix their signatures and thumbmarks, so that the honorary consul can verify the person who signs the computer-generated forms that the Embassy mailed to them and therefore, applicants don't have to go to Washington, D.C. anymore". In Georgia, the honorary consul's office is located at 3340 Peach Tree Road, NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, 30326. The consul's office in Florida is located at 1900 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 29, Ft. Lauderdale 33309. While Detroit and Michigan are covered by the Chicago consulate. We are also pleased to inform our "kababayans" that the passport fee is still $50.00, and that holders of a valid unexpired Philippine passport need not worry, as the passport will be honored until it expires. The MRP photo requirements and specifications are: Background - ROYAL BLUE; 4.5cm x 3.5cm; no tilting of head; collared shirt/decent attire; both ears visible; prescription eye-glass allowed provided there is no glare. The photo should be taken within the last six (6) months. For more information go to the Philippine embassy website at: www.philippineembassy-usa.org