Manila: Filipinos will soon enjoy longer passport validity once Congress approves a measure extending the validity of official travel document from the present five, to 10 years.
“The present five-year validity is rather too short given the tedious process and cost it requires to obtain or renew a passport,” Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the second congressional district of Pampanga said.
Arroyo, the former President who now chairs the House technical working group (TWG) consolidating a number of measures filed before the chamber seeking to lengthen the validity of passports, said it is not the intention of the authors of the bills to introduce any other amendment to the existing law, but only to extend the period of the travel document’s validity.
The TWG reviewed a total 22 bills to amend Republic Act 8239, otherwise known as the “Philippine Passport Law.”
Under the consolidated proposal, adults or those 18 years and above will enjoy a passport validity of 10 years, while minors, or those aged zero to 17 years old, will have five year valid official travel document.
It can be recalled that during the first national address given by President Rodrigo Duterte last July 25 before Congress, the then newly-elected leader promised to provide Filipinos with passports that effective for up to ten years instead of just five.
“You are the ones who will pass the law. It is fine with me if you even extend the effectiveness of passports for up to 30 years,” he said in jest.
The President recounted how he was pained when he saw long lines of people standing for long hours under the sun while applying for passport at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) satellite office in Davao City.
He said that some even had to stay at the DFA office overnight waiting in line to get their new passport.
“It really hurts me to see our countrymen suffer just to get their travel documents,” he said.
The President had vowed to cut red tape involved in getting passports and other travel documents for Filipinos.
Everyday hundreds of Filipinos leave the country for pleasure travel as well as to seek fortune in distant lands and sustain their family as overseas workers.
