I just renewed my US passport last Dec. I do not have an account at BDO, but my wife does. She purchased the bank draft payable to the US Embassy in her name using her account (you have to use US dollars to purchase the bank draft with). No problems.
The US Embassy in Manila told me in a responding email that a relative or friend can get the Dollar Draft for you. This is for all of expats that do not have a dollar account. Draft must be obtained at BDO, BPI or at Security Bank. No other bank accepted. We did have to show the US Embassy email to the bank manager stating it was ok in order to convince the BPI bank manager to process the draft. He was quite skittish to do it as he had never done one before. A friend got the dollar draft for me and it was accepted at the US Embassy.
