(Online) Passport Renewal Services - basics

There are several agencies offering Passport Renewal Services - some even offer door-to-door deliveries. Several things that you should be aware of, just so you would get the best deal out of anything:

1. If you don't mind lining up in in DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) office but are simply worried about having to pick it up - there's an option to have it delivered to a specific address that you will provide. So you'll still have to queue; regular time you'll spend in DFA for a new passport is 7hours (5am to 12pm based on a friends' personal experience).
   
2. There is actually an option to set a personal appointment in DFA so you wouldn't have to arrive at 5am just to realize that you're 40th in line and that they open their gates at 7am. Here's where you set your appointment: http://dfa.gov.ph/form/app3/index.html
3. NSO (National Statistics Office), the same office where you get an original copy of your Birth Certificate has a tie up with DFA and offers Passport renewal Services over the phone: DFA Passport Direct allows customers to set an appointment by calling the number 7371000 when a messenger will pick up the required documents from a specified address (plus the processing fee of Php1,300) for passport renewal. The customers's personal appearance in the DFA will also be scheduled (would take less than 30 minutes of your time). The new and old passports will be delivered to you, 9-16 days after the personal appearance in the DFA office.
4. LBC offers the same services at the same costs as DFA Passport Direct (See item #3) only difference is you don't call them up to pick up your documents, instead, you go to an LBC branch to fill up a form and to submit your requirements. However, they offer a tracking system so the paranoids (like me) would know on what stage your passport is in.
5. There are other travel agencies offering the same services, some, however, offer it at a more expensive cost of Php1,500 or more.

Things to note:

• If someone else were to receive your passport on delivery, they should have the applicant's authorization letter plus a valid ID of the applicant and a valid ID of the representative (the individual who will accept on the applicant's behalf) - of course the letter has to state who the authorized representative is (that's what the ID's are for, duh).
  
• Personal Appearance in the DFA office is required both for new passport application and for renewal of passport since new Philippine passports are now in electronic readable format.
• New (First time applicants) Passport requirements according to the DFA: http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/passport-eng.htm
  
• Renewal of Passport requirements according to the DFA: http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/renewal.htm
  
• Replacement of lost passport requirements according to the DFA: http://www.dfa.gov.ph/consular/lost-ppt.htm
• Processing fees will cover the Passport Fees
  

Passport Fees are as follows:

• Regular Processing (14 working days), 44-Page = P 500.00
• Expedited Processing (7 working days), Additional P 250.00
• Replacement of Lost valid Passport, 44-Page = P 700.00