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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Bbicosne
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill 20.2°7

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.

Explanatory Note

This bill responds to the public clamor as well as the presidential directive to extend
the validity period of the Philippine passport to 10 years, aligning it with global standards
which makes such travel document usable fora decade.

At present , Philippine passports expire in five years, partly out of the apprehension
that forgers can come up with the technology to illicitly produce copies within that period

But the compelling reason perhaps on such a shorter validity is finances as the
issuance of passports is a major revenue eamer for the government due to the legions of
overseas Filipinos who rely on it for travel and employment.

Filipinos, however, do not mind paying a fee for a document essential for eking out a
living in or visiting distant shores.

Judging by mainstream and social media reports, their main complaint is the
hardship they have to endure in securing a passport

One culprit is geography as passport-issuing centers are located in a few cities. This
is aggravated by the sheer number of applicants. Another reason is the poor state of
government record-keeping, resulting in supporting documents often hard to secure.

The result is long queues and longer waiting time. Booking an appointment, to
personal appearance, to release of passport can take up to a month. And if one lives in
tural areas, the trip to the city to get a passport becomes a week-long excursion at least.


The same problem is encountered by Filipinos living abroad. Lucky are those in
countries where we have consular presence because the only option, if there is none, is to
travel to a nearby country where there is one.

But most get theirs in the home country where instead of happily spending their
vacation in the company of kin and kith they devote a large part of it trying to have their
passports renewed

By lengthening the validity period of their passport, we cut the red tape, and the
long lines our citizens have to endure in getting one.

ROLANI G. ANDAYA, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill 2827

Introduced by REP. ROLANDO G. ANDAYA JR

AN ACT
EXTENDING THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT TO TEN (10)
YEARS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239

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

SECTION 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239 is amended to read as follows:
“Sec. 10. Validity. - Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for
a period of [five (5)] TEN (10) years: Provided, however, That the issuing
authority may limit the period of validity to less than five (5)] TEN (10) years;
whenever [in the national economic interest or political stability of the country
such restriction is necessary:] THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
DEEMS THAT NATIONAL SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY OR PUBLIC
HEALTH SO REQUIRES OR WHENEVER THE APPLICANT'S
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS APPEAR INADEQUATE TO ESTABLISH
FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP AND THAT THE TRAVEL IS FOR A VALID
REASON AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE RULES OF THE
DEPARTMENT : 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.

SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The Department of Foreign Affairs
shall, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, revise and amend the
implementing guidelines of Republic Act No. 8239.


SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,