14 Feb Solons approve 10-year passport validity
Source: Manila Times
The House of Representatives on Monday approved the extension of Philippine passport validity from five to ten years. With majority vote of 216, with no negative or abstentious, the bill was approved on final and third reading and agreed to send the copy to the Senate.
The bill seeks to amend the provisions Philippine Passport Act of 1999 by extending the validity of the passports to ten years. House Bill No. 4767 consolidated at least 20 bills proposing to amend the Section 10 of the RA 8239.
The Department of Foreign Affairs was consulted and endorsed the proposal which conformed to international practice. The bill aims to ease the burden of Overseas Filipino Workers, businessmen, traveler to renew their passports every five years.
DFA said the five year validity is too short and that they share the burden of joining long lines and long hours of renewal process with new applicants.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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