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Controversial passport printing deal to undergo review 'soon': DFA chief

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Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The Philippine Passport. ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/09/01/20180820-ph-passport-gcs-0481.jpg"/><figcaption>The Philippine Passport. <em>ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said their controversial memorandum of agreement (MOA) with APO Production Unit, Inc. for the printing of passports would undergo a review &quot;soon&quot; before the deal&#x27;s expiration.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/17/19/throwback-2016-passport-probe-fizzled-after-europe-field-trip-roque">THROWBACK: 2016 passport probe fizzled after Europe &#x27;field trip&#x27; - Roque</a></li></ul><p>During the Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing on DFA Secretary Manalo&#x27;s nomination, Surigao del Sur. Rep. Johnny Pimentel asked about the status of the MOA and if it was still in effect.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/01/21/passport-backlog-estimated-at-up-to-4-million-dfa">DFA passport backlog estimated at 3 million to 4 million</a></li></ul><p>In 2016, it was discovered that APO, a government-owned and controlled corporation, tapped private firm United Graphic Expression Corporation (UGEC) to undertake the task of printing the Philippine passports, which was allegedly in violation of procurement laws.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/14/19/locsin-misinformed-about-passport-data-mess-suspects-deflection-yasay">Ex-DFA chief Yasay suspects deflection in passport mess; Locsin denies he is &#x27;misinformed&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>&quot;We found out that this MOA granting authority to APO to print passports is disadvantageous to the government because... APO subcontracted the printing to UGEC,&quot; Pimentel recalled.</p><p>&quot;Actually wala nang ginagawa ang APO... so wala ring sibli,&quot; he added.</p><p>According to Manalo, the MOA is set to end soon, either later this year or early next year.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/30/18/yasay-claims-private-firm-produces-ph-passports">Yasay claims private firm produces PH passports</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I think we will review [it] at the end of the year because it&#x27;ll be expiring soon. And we will see whether it should be continued or there&#x27;s other alternative sources,&quot; Manalo told the CA members.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/08/12/22/dfa-nais-pabilisin-padaliin-ang-pagkuha-ng-passport">DFA nais pabilisin, padaliin ang pagkuha ng passport</a></li></ul><p>In 2019, APO had claimed it directly undertakes all printing services while UGEC handles other aspects &quot;such as financing, accounting and procurement of supplies and materials.&quot;</p><p>The late Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., in March 2018, blamed the transfer of the printing of e-passports from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to the APO Production Unit for the delay in processing of passport applications.</p><p>Yasay said the government&#x27;s deal with APO Production Unit was hurriedly signed and was disadvantageous to government.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2260919" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo said the MOA with APO is set to end soon, either later this year or early next year.

Controversial passport printing deal to undergo review 'soon': DFA chief

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Controversial passport printing deal to undergo review 'soon': DFA chief

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 28, 2022 08:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Commission on Appointments

CA

DFA

Enrique Manalo

passport

APO

UGEC

passport printing

Johnny Pimentel

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