Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No, 5968

Introduced by HON. FRANCISCO G. DATOL, JR.,
Representative, Senior Citizens Party-List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from pov
through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment
rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. In all matters relating to
the care, health, and benefits of the elderly, the State shall adopt an integt
and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all people at affordable
costs giving priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women
and children. *

Tt is the declared policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic social order a
a

With the foregoing constitutional policy, the government has been committed) in
providing services for the elderly members (Senior Citizens) of our society from laws and
Policies being implemented such as discounts in hotels, transportation, drugstores and even
in medical and dental services, among others. Elderly members of our society are
recognized for their contribution in shaping the nation in general and nurturing Filipino
families in particular during their early years. The government provides social services to
elderly to give them comfort and convenience as way of expressing heartfelt gratitude and
selfless support to their well-being. 2

Most of the elderly members of our society enjoy their retirement through travelling
and visiting places outside the country, thus, in order to help them avoid the rigorous and
long process associated in applying and/or renewing passports, a grant of a lifetime validity
of the same should be implemented.

* 1987 Philippine Constitution
2 Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010



Application and renewal of passports of Senior Citizens or from the age of sixty (60)
years old and above should be given the privilege of having passport with lifetime validity to
help them fully enjoy their retirement through a hassle-free and convenient way of securing
passports.

HON. Fi 0G. L, IR.
Representative
Senior Citizens Party List



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGTEENTH CONGRESS |
First Regular Session

House Bill fracas |

Introduced by HON. FRANCISCO G. DATOL, JR.,
Representative, Senior Citizens Party-List

AN ACT |
GRANTING LIFETIME VALIDITY OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS ISSUED TO SENIOR
CITIZENS/ELDERLY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239 AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT 10928 (R.A. 10928),
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996",
AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled: |

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the “Senior Citizens’ Lifetime
Passport Act of 2019”

SECTION 2. Validity. - Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known) as
the “Philippine Passport Act of 1996”, as amended, is hereby further amended to read| as
follows:

“SEC. 10 Validity - Regular passports issued to individuals from ei an (1!
0 under this Act shall be valid for a period of ten (10) years, for

of age and above

individuals under eighteen (18) years of age, only a passport with five (5)-year
validity shall be issued, and fi or r

(60) years of age shall have a lifetime validity: Provided, further, That the issuing

authority may limit the period of val to less than ten (10) years, whenever in the
national economic interest or political stability of the country such restriction is
necessary: Provided, finally, That a new passport may be issued to replace one
which validity has expired, the old passport being returned to the holder afte
cancellation.” |

SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - To carry out the provisions of
this Act, the Department of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the National Commission|on
Senior Citizens shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, issue the
implementing rules and regulations for this Act.


SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance be held invalid, the other provisions) or
sections of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved.