The Philippine passport is a vital document, serving not only as a travel credential but as the primary proof of Philippine citizenship and identity. When a discrepancy exists in a civil registry document—such as a birth certificate—it can create a significant bottleneck in the application process. For those currently undergoing a Petition for Correction of Clerical Error under Republic Act No. 9048 (as amended by R.A. 10172), navigating the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) requirements requires an understanding of both administrative law and consular policy.

The Nature of the Problem: Discrepancy vs. Identity

The DFA adheres to a "strict alignment" policy. This means the data on your passport application must match the data on your Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) authenticated birth certificate or Marriage Contract exactly.

Common clerical errors include:

Misspelled first or last names.
Incorrect date or month of birth.
Incorrect sex/gender (under R.A. 10172).
Typographical errors in the place of birth.

If you have already initiated a petition with the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or the Consul General (for those born abroad), your legal status is "in flux." The error is acknowledged, but the official record has not yet been amended.

Can You Apply While the Petition is Pending?

Technically, you can appear for an appointment, but the DFA generally will not issue a passport based on the "incorrect" data if you intend for the passport to reflect the "corrected" data later.

1. The Conflict of Records

If you apply using the uncorrected birth certificate, your passport will bear the error. Once your petition is granted and your birth certificate is updated, your passport will no longer match your legal record, rendering it "erroneous." This would require a second passport application (and fee) to correct the name or data on the travel document.

2. DFA Policy on "Pending" Status

The DFA typically requires the Finality of the Decision and the Annotated Birth Certificate. A mere "Certificate of Filing" or a "Notice of Publication" is usually insufficient to bypass the existing error on the PSA record.

The Legal Workflow: From Petition to Passport

To ensure a successful passport application, the following legal milestones must be reached in your clerical error petition:

The Decision: The City or Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MCR) issues a formal decision granting the correction.
Affirmation: The Decision is sent to the Office of the Civil Registrar General (OCRG) under the PSA for affirmation.
Certificate of Finality: Once affirmed and no appeals are filed, the LCR issues a Certificate of Finality.
Annotation: The LCR annotates the original birth record.
PSA Issuance: The annotated record is transmitted to the PSA. You must request a copy of the Birth Certificate in Security Paper (SECPA) that contains the remarks/annotations regarding the correction.

Requirements for the DFA Appointment

Once the petition is resolved, you cannot simply bring the old birth certificate. You must present:

Annotated PSA Birth Certificate: The version of your birth certificate that shows the correction in the marginal notes.
Certified True Copy (CTC) of the LCR Decision: The document signed by the local registrar granting the petition.
Certificate of Finality: Proof that the decision is no longer subject to appeal.
PSA Affirmation: Evidence that the PSA has recognized and recorded the change.

Strategic Considerations: Urgent Travel

If there is an extreme urgency to travel (e.g., medical emergency or OFW deployment) while a petition is pending:

Applying with the Error: You may choose to apply using the current, erroneous PSA record. However, you must be prepared for the legal identity on your visa, plane tickets, and employment contracts to match the incorrect spelling or data.
Future Amendment: After the petition is granted, you will be required to undergo a "Renewal (Replacement of Erroneous Passport)" process, which involves presenting the same set of judicial or administrative decrees mentioned above.

Summary Table: Administrative Correction Process

Stage	Document Needed	Relevance to DFA
Filing	Petition for Correction	Generally not accepted for processing.
Approval	Decision of the LCR	Proves the merit of the correction but is not "Final."
Finality	Certificate of Finality	Essential for proving the legal change is permanent.
Registration	Annotated PSA Birth Cert	Primary Requirement for passport issuance.

Legal Caution

Under the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, providing false information or concealing a material fact is a criminal offense. If you have already begun a petition to change your name because the current one is "wrong," you must disclose this if questioned. Attempting to get a passport under a "new" identity without the proper transition of the old record can lead to a "Multiple Record" hit in the DFA biometric system, resulting in a long-term suspension of your travel privileges.