MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / May 7, 2014) – The Filipino migrants’ rights group Migrante-Middle East has called on the Aquino government on Wednesday to conduct an impartial investigation over the issuance of at least 10,000 defective e-passports.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said e-passports issued in 2010 had detached covers and put at risk its electronic chip, which contains the biometric data of its owner.
“It would be prudent on the part of the DFA to conduct an investigation over these substandard passports so that it will not be repeated. Some 12 million overseas Filipino workers deserve quality service,” John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator, said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
DFA spokesperson Charles Jose was quoted as saying that the agency is not undertaking any investigation into the matter because the e-passport passed through a stringent procurement system.
“If the materials and machines used in passport production pass through the stringent and rigorous procurement system why then there were defective e-passports issued? It boils down into an issue of quality service and product,” Monterona said.
“Kung ganung low quality e-passport meron ang gobyerno, hindi tugma iyon sa mataas na singil lalo na kung sa PH diplomatic post kumuha or mag-renew ang OFW na halos triple ang singil,” he added.
Monterona said in Saudi Arabia for instance, e-passport renewal would cost around 240 riyals or roughly equivalent to P2,760. He said the government procurement system must be reviewed and adopt the globally-accepted principle of total quality management and international quality standards.
“Kaya importanteng maimbestigahan eto para makita kung saan may pagkukulang, saan sumablay para maituwid at may managot. Hindi dapat puro pagpataw lang ng singilin at bayarin na dumami at tumaas pa sa ilalim ng Aquino government,” he said.
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