MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will live test its e-payment system in its Aseana site on Saturday, a development seen to make passport processes faster and more convenient.

In an advisory Friday, the agency said starting tomorrow, all passport application and renewal appointments at the DFA-Aseana site will require pre-payment via its Passport e-payment facility. The e-payment system allows passport applicants to pay the processing fee through banks and other platforms, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said earlier.

"When you enter your details sa appointment system, you would be made to pay," Assistant Secretary Frank Cimafranca of the Office of Consular Affairs told ABS-CBN News.

"Bago tatanggapin 'yung application mo you will have to pay upfront. So you cannot avail of the appointment unless you pay," the official explained further.

Cimafranca said this system is expected to prevent fixers from reserving slots and selling them to passport applicants. It is also seen to improve show-up rates.

The DFA said this live testing is in preparation for the official launch of the passport e-payment system. The agency this year began releasing passports with 10 years of validity.