Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 41

Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR.

AN ACT
GRANTING LIFETIME VALIDITY OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS ISSUED TO.
SENIOR CITIZENS, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996" AS AMENDED

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the well-known traits of Filipinos is that we are known to be loving and
respectful to our elders. It is a norm for us to always give priority and in any way assist
our elders as a sign of our respect to them.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), In the Philippines, as of
2020, senior citizens make up 8.5 percent of our population or around the number of 9.22
million people, Comparing it from the 2015 study conducted by PSA, there were only 7.5
percent or 7.53 million senior citizens recorded in the Philippines’.

Over the years, there have been quite a number of laws enacted to protect and
give aid to our senior citizens. Some of which is with regard to retirement benefits, their
pensions, free and discounted medical goods and services and even discounts on other
commodities.

To further give aid and prioritize our senior citizens, this bill aims to grant to senior
citizens a lifetime validity for their Philippine passports. As provided for by Republic Ac

1 Age and Sex Distribution in the Philippine Population (2020 Census of Population and Housing) at
https://psa.gov. ph/content/age-and-sex-distribution-philippine-population-2020-census-population- and-
housing (last accessed on June 26, 2028).


No, 10928, otherwise known as “Philippine Passport Act of 1996”, regular passports shall
be valid for a period of ten (10) years but for individuals under the age of eighteen, regular
passports shall be valid for five (5) years?

Through this bill the senior citizens will-no longer be required to go over the
gruesome process of continuously renewing their passports. This bill seeks to grant this
privilege to our senior citizens in order to alleviate and to make the process of renewing
their passports more convenient.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is necessary.

Representative
First Congressional District of Manila

? Section 1, Republic Act No. 10928.



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 41

AN ACT
GRANTING LIFETIME VALIDITY OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS ISSUED TO
SENIOR CITIZENS, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996" AS AMENDED

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Lifetime Passport Validity for
the Senior Citizens Act."

SECTION 2. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the "Philippine
Passports Act of 1996" as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 10. Validity - Regular passports issued under this Act shall be
valid for a period of ten (10) years: Provided, however, That act for
individuals under eighteen (18) years of age, only a passport with five
(8) - years validity shall be Issued: Provided, further, That the issuing
authority may limit the period of validity to less than (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 after cancellation

"PASSPORTS OF SENIOR CITIZENS ISSUED OR RENEWED AT
THE AGE OF SIXTY (60) YEARS AND ABOVE SHALL HAVE
LIFETIME VALIDITY."


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 ninety (90) days for 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,