Acting Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio has been summoned to a political oversight debate to report on the passport case.

Next week, the Second Commission of the Chamber will be the scene of a political control debate to which the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge, Rosa Villavicencio, has been summoned , in order for her to report on the issuance of passports and clarify whether the printing of these documents is guaranteed from September 1 , the date on which the contract with the company Thomas Greg ends.

"With the permission of the Second Constitutional Commission and in accordance with Article 135-8 of the Political Constitution and Articles 233 and 249 of Law 5 of 1992, I hereby submit to the honorable representatives of this legislative body this summons to a political oversight debate with the Minister of Foreign Affairs (E), Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, for the date determined by the Board of Directors of this Commission, for the purpose of conducting an analysis," the proposal reads. The summons has been set for July 30.

Democratic Center representative Juan Espinal, one of the debate's participants, stated: " Colombians cannot be left without passports. We in Congress must prevent this (...) That's why we're going to summon the Foreign Minister to explain the measures and decisions being taken to prevent Colombians from being left without this important document. We also regret the government's decisions and are concerned about the alert issued in recent hours by the Attorney General's Office."

Among the questions included in the questionnaire for Chancellor Villavicencio are topics related to management , dispatch efficiency, security, available technology, and the allocated budget. Some of the questions are:

What is the average issuance time for a regular passport nationwide, and to what extent does it meet international standards?

What measures has the Foreign Ministry implemented to reduce wait times and facilitate appointment scheduling at passport offices?

How has demand for passports performed over the past five years , and what are the projections for the 2025-2030 period?

Are there regions in the country with severe gaps in passport issuance services ? What coverage expansion plan has been designed?

What security features—such as holograms, special inks, and biometric chips—does the current Colombian passport incorporate ? What security features will be included in the new passports under the scheme proposed by the National Government?

Are biometric verification systems being installed at consulates and border checkpoints?

How is the protection of citizens' personal and biometric data in the passport database guaranteed?

Is there any progress being made in issuing e-passports or integrating NFC technology? What is the planned timeline?

What is the budget allocated for passport issuance during the 2024-2025 period, and how has it been spent to date?

Is there a shortage of personnel or infrastructure for passport issuance at consulates abroad? What additional resources are needed?

Maria Alejandra Gonzalez Duarte