MANILA- Passport appointment slots from July to September will be opened on Wednesday, May 2 except for the Department of Foreign Affairs Aseana office in Parañaque City.

The development comes after the DFA announced last week that it has yet to open slots for online passport appointment starting July this year due to an ongoing system upgrade.

• Applying for a passport? Here's why the DFA has yet to open July slots

The agency earlier said it would enhance the appointment system with the implementation of an electronic payment facility which would allow passport applicants to pay at a payment facility of their choice before going to a consular office.

On Tuesday, the DFA said pilot testing of e-payment in DFA Aseana was in the "final stages."

"Once finalized — and we hope this to materialize very soon — ePayment will be fully implemented in all Consular Offices beginning with DFA Aseana," the agency said, noting that pilot tests have shown "promising results."

• DFA requires prepayment for passport, renewal applications at Aseana site

DFA reminded the public that overseas Filipino workers, senior citizens, persons with disability, solo parents, minors (7 years old and below), and those with emergency and urgent travels may apply for or renew their passports at any consular office including its Aseana site without an online appointment.