DFA Passport Processing

Getting a passport used to be a time-consuming process at the Department of Foreign Affairs along Roxas Boulevard.  One of the many upgrades that have been introduced is the opening of mall-based processing offices that allow people to process passports at more convenient places, which are spread out all over the country.  Vicky and Monique went to the DFA processing center at the SM Megamall a few Saturdays ago.  They walked in at 12 noon, and came out by 3pm, a total of 3 hours processing time (this used to take around 6 hours).  As an added convenience, passports are mailed to your home (delivered in around 2 weeks time).  A few other government offices have opened at the malls (including the National Census & Statistics Office, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Land Transportation Office), which, aside from being convenient for the public, isn't bad at all for the mall owners--automatic traffic, more customers!