A conflict that has roiled global supply chains for more than five weeks now has a direct consequence for Filipinos waiting on new travel documents: the Department of Foreign Affairs warned Wednesday that passport releases could be delayed due to “logistical and supply chain issues” stemming from the US-Israel war on Iran.
The Office of Consular Affairs said the slowdowns could hit applications filed starting from the last week of March 2026. Applicants should expect wait times of between 10 and 15 working days from the date of filing, it said on Facebook, adding that the advisory would remain in effect “until further notice.”
The agency said it was “closely working with the third-party service provider for the printing of the ePassports on resolving the current delays and ensuring that passport operations normalize as soon as possible.”
The announcement came on the same day the United States and Iran agreed to halt hostilities for two weeks, capping more than five weeks of fighting that has hammered shipping lanes and sent oil markets into shock. Trump posted on Truth Social that he would suspend bombing and attacks on Iran, contingent on Tehran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed its acceptance of the ceasefire and claimed the country had achieved nearly all of its war objectives. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that “for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”
Trump described the 10-point Iranian proposal as “a workable basis on which to negotiate” and called the ceasefire announcement “a big day for world peace.” Formal peace talks between Washington and Tehran are expected to begin Friday in Islamabad, with Vice President JD Vance likely leading the US delegation.
Oil markets reacted sharply to the breakthrough, with Brent crude having risen around 51 percent to roughly $109 per barrel in the five weeks since the war began. Crude prices fell heavily following the ceasefire news.
The Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has controlled since shortly after the February 28 strikes, carries around 20 million barrels of oil daily, representing roughly 20 percent of global seaborne oil trade. The Philippines imports 98 percent of its crude from the Middle East, making the disruption especially acute for Manila.
Filipinos needing urgent consular assistance in the meantime may reach the DFA Office of Consular Affairs at oca.concerns@dfa.gov.ph for general concerns, or passportconcerns@dfa.gov.ph for passport-specific matters. The agency can also be reached by phone on working days: (02) 8234-3488 for appointment concerns, and (02) 8651-9400 for passport, authentication, and other consular inquiries. A full directory of consular offices is available through the DFA’s consular office directory online.
