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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4645

Introduced by Representative ANA CRISTINA SIQUIAN-GO

AN ACT
CREATING A PASSPORT PROCESSING AND ISSUANCE CENTER FOR EVERY
PROVINCE, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239 OR
THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article Ill, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution guarantees that the right to travel
of every citizen shall not be impaired except in the interest of national security, public
safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.

By this principle, it is the duty of the government to issue passport to any
individual or citizen of the Philippines who complies with the requirements under
Republic Act No. 8239, the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, which established the
guidelines for the application and issuance of passports by the government through
the Department of Foreign Affairs.

By the number of Filipinos wanting to travel abroad mostly for overseas job
deployment, the DFA has been swamped through the years with a huge number of
passport applications. The endless lines in the DFA Consular Offices is a
demonstration of the failings of the department to meet the escalating applications for
regular passports. The delay in the processing which in most times takes at least two
months from appointment to the issuance of the passport, has practically impaired the
right of many Filipinos to travel and for most to secure employment abroad.


The DFA has been pursuing measures time and again to mitigate the situation
but the delays and the backlogs in passport applications have continued to hound the
consular offices. The DFA has proven however that with additional frontline personnel
and locations of service providers, delays and backlogs can be drastically reduced
The present system created regional processing centers to inhibit the number of
applicants from flocking to Metro Manila. It decentralized the system allowing those
from the provinces to apply and secure passports without having to travel to Metro
Manila, a costly trip for all, while de-clogging the DFA processing centers in Metro
Manila.

As it has been shown, a regional processing center is a welcome development
for those in the provinces as they do not have to travel to Metro Manila anymore for
their passport application. But for a hopeful OFW in San Mariano, Isabela, his
appointment to the regional passport processing center would still require him to take
a three-hour trip to Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

This bill seeks to extend the decentralized approach in passport processing to
the provincial level. It will enable everybody particularly those in the proyinces equal
opportunity to apply and secure his or her regular passport in the most efficient and
speedy manner. Locating passport processing and issuance center in the capital city
or municipality of every province removes the difficulty of travelling far for one's
passport application.

In view of the foregoing, | urge the timely approval of this bill

ANA CRISTINA SIQUIAN-GO
2" District, Isabela


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House pitt no. 4645 __

Introduced by Representatives ANA CRISTINA SIQUIAN-GO

AN ACT
CREATING A PASSPORT PROCESSING AND ISSUANCE CENTER FOR EVERY
PROVINCE, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE, REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239 OR
THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996

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

SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8239, the Philippine Passport Act

of 1996, is hereby amended to read as follows:

SEC. 6. Application. - The application may be filed by:

a) The applicant himself or herself; or

b) The parent or legal guardian on behalf of an applicant who is below the

age of majority.

In case of first time applicants, the applicant must present
himself/herself in person to prove that he or she is the same person and of
the age claimed in the application form. In case of renewal the application

may be filed by any licensed travel agency duly accredited by the


Department of Foreign Affairs: Provided, That the agent shall be
responsible for the authenticity or bona fide of the supporting documents

being presented to meet the requirements for the application of passports.

THERE SHALL BE CREATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS A PASSPORT PROCESSING AND ISSUANCE
CENTER IN EVERY PROVINCE LOCATING IT AS MUCH AS
PRACTICABLE IN THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT CENTER, WHERE
ALL APPLICATIONS FOR PASSPORT BY A RESIDENT OF THE
PROVINCE CAN BE PROCESSED AND RELEASED UPON ITS
ISSUANCE.

SECTION 2. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, letters
of instructions, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this

Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause — This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

following its publication in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved