DFA rejects Ombudsman Remulla's call to outsource visa processing

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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday pushed back against Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s call to strip the agency of its visa-issuance functions, rejecting his allegation that it had turned the process into a business.

In a statement, the DFA said Remulla’s remarks “undermine the institutional integrity of the Department and unfairly malign the reputation of the Philippine Foreign Service and its personnel.”

“The visa fees collected are pursuant to applicable laws and regulations, including the prescribed Schedule of Fees. The DFA does not tolerate corruption and remains committed to accountability, transparency, and utmost professionalism in the delivery of public service,” the agency said.

The DFA also maintained that visa issuance involves substantive assessments of applications and verification of documents.

“These responsibilities require the exercise of official judgment pursuant to the applicable Philippine laws, rules and regulations, and cannot be reduced to just the administrative receipt and processing of documents,” it said.

Remulla earlier called for the government to outsource visa processing to a third-party service provider, arguing that visa issuance was an immigration concern that fell under the Department of Justice (DOJ).

He described visa processing as a clerical task and said the Philippines lacked the capacity to handle it effectively in other countries, making a third-party provider such as VFS a better option.

“The DFA’s problem is that it seems to have forgotten that its primary job is to be diplomats. In this case, they want something else to happen—they want to do business. They used to turn visa issuance in China into a business,” Remulla said on his program on DZRH.

Remulla was reacting to reports that the DFA was reviewing its policy on visa-free entry for Chinese tourists amid concerns that it may have contributed to the expansion of Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) activities.

In response, the DFA said its authority to issue visas is grounded in domestic law and international conventions.

While acknowledging that third-party providers such as VFS may offer administrative support services, the agency stressed that outsourcing these functions would not mean transferring the sovereign authority to approve or deny visa applications.

“This authority remains a governmental responsibility, as exercised by the Philippine Embassies and Consulates,” the DFA said.

“The DFA will continue to faithfully discharge its statutory responsibilities and uphold the integrity of Philippine visa issuance in the best interest of the country and the Filipino people,” it added.— MCG, GMA News

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