Manila: Starting January 1, 2018, Filipinos can expect to be issued with passports with 10-year validity, Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano announced on Wednesday.

Cayetano signed the implementing rules and guidelines for Republic Act 10928, a law that doubles the duration of validity of the Philippine passports from five years to ten years.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Ten-Year Passport Act, which amends the 21-year-old Philippine Passport Act of 1996 or Republic Act 8239 last July, however, the measure to implement it was only signed on Wednesday.

“Although President Duterte signed the new law on passports in August, it took time to sign the implementing rules because we have to conduct extensive consultations on how the travel document and process involved in its issuance can be further improved,” he said.

Aside from this, Cayetano said there is considerable time involved in notifying the Philippine Embassies and Consulates abroad and giving them leeway to make adjustments in the passport issuance process.

Cayetano said lawmakers had travelled abroad to examine passport models from other countries with regards to their security features as well as convenience.

“No price increase in the passport fees, but you will be getting the same benefits and even more convenience,” Cayetano told Filipinos.

There had been plenty of suggestions from Filipinos on how to improve the passport and one of this is extending the validity from five years to ten years. “Filipinos now don’t have to fall in line every five years to renew their passports,” he said.

Filipinos need not worry of the many processes involved in securing and renewing the passports because it contains all the data needed.

Those exempted from the new 10-year passports are applicants below 18 years old.

“This exemption is necessary because the features of minors change considerably as they age,” he said.

Cayetano also said the DFA is working on a system where Filipinos need not be physically present at the DFA offices to have their passports renewed.

He added that the DFA is also working on having a special “walk-in lane” for people with disabilities, elderly, pregnant women and overseas Filipino workers and children below seven years together with their parents

“Persons who fall under this category do not need an appointment, they could just walk in at the DFA offices and have their passports processed,” said Cayetano.

Duterte had signed Republic Act 10928, as early as July 25, but this move by the president was only made known to the public on August 2.

The enactment of the measure has long been awaited by OFWs and frequent travellers who had grown exasperated by the length of period they had to bear with in renewing their passports.

The passport extension law was among the first measures that Duterte promised to work on when he assumed office in July 2016.