MANILA: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) suspended its consular operations in Metro Manila on Wednesday amid heavy rains and floods due to the southwest monsoon (habagat) and Typhoon Carina. The suspended operations cover passport and authentication services in DFA Aseana, DFA Consular Offices, and Temporary Off-Site Passport Services (TOPS) in the National Capital Region (NCR), the agency said in its advisory. It also suspended its Passport Releasing Service Center at DoubleDragon Meridian Park in Pasay City, which resumes operations on July 25. Affected applicants for passport services with confirmed appointments on July 24 at DFA Aseana and consular offices in NCR will be accommodated from July 25 to Aug. 23, the DFA said. TOPS applicants would also be accommodated in their respective Supervising Consular Offices (https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/transparency/tops-directory) from July 25 to Aug. 23 on the same time slot they were given from their original appointment. For DFA COs and TOPS outside th e NCR, on the other hand, applicants are advised to refer to announcements from their local government offices for information on suspension of services. Meanwhile, affected authentication applicants with confirmed appointments at DFA-Aseana today will be accommodated from July 25 to Aug. 2. Affected authentication applicants with confirmed appointments in NCR consular offices will be accommodated within 30 days from July 25. 'Affected applicants must present their confirmed appointment packet which shows that their original schedule is on 24 July 2024,' the DFA reminded. Malacañang has earlier suspended work in government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila amid torrential rains brought by the weather disturbances, which have caused heavy floods in various cities and major thoroughfares. Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has recommended placing the NCR under a state of calamity. Source: Philippines News Agency