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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate OKs new PH passport law on final reading

Senate OKs new PH passport law on final reading

Published Sep 25, 2023 11:33 pm

The Senate has approved on third and final reading the bill providing for a new Philippine passport law.

Senate Billl No. 2001 or the proposed “New Philippine Passport Act” is expected to pave the way for a new generation of passports that is at par with international standards.

It is also expected to help streamline the passport application process, while maintaining the integrity and security of the country's passports, according to Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

"The New Philippine Passport Law will be the framework upon which we will build a future reiteration of the Philippine passport and contactless technologies," Marcos said during her sponsorship speech of the measure.

Aside from an online application portal, the bill provides for the establishment of an Electronic One-Stop Shop on the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) website to facilitate convenience of application and ease in gathering and submission of requirements.

Likewise, the measure institutionalizes the DFA’s offsite and mobile passport services.

Under the bill, the DFA shall arrange special lanes for the passport applications by senior citizens, persons with disability, pregnant women, minors aged seven and below, solo parents, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and individuals with emergency and exceptional cases.

Also under the measure, personal appearance of OFWs abroad and senior citizens would no longer be required for passport renewal.

The bill also provides the issuance of emergency passports for Filipino travelers who lose their passports during overseas travel. These emergency passports will be valid for one year to allow Filipinos to continue with their intended travel abroad.

SBN No. 2001 also proposes the creation of a Passport Revolving Fund. The funds will be sourced from the service fees charged from passport processing and issuance which require special consideration or issuance beyond regular office hours.

Congress shall review the disbursement and use of the fund annually.

The proposed new passport law also establishes a passport database, which shall contain a record of denials, cancellations, lost passports, aside from the biographic, and biometric details of the passport holder.

The bill also lists a number of prohibitions and penalties relating to forgery, withholding and improper use of passports and other travel documents.

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Philippine Passport Senate of the Phiippines
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