NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
€57
S. No.
feu. 
C?«- -
01 11)?
7Z JUL14 P6 26
RUCtlVEt) Bi';
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
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
In the myriad of values that the Filipino possesses, perhaps one of the most admirable is 
the respect he gives to his elders. In fact, the practice that caring for the elderly is a 
responsibility of their children is deeply rooted as firmly in the Filipino society as it is 
elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Such thriving tradition of respect is clearly mirrored in the 
number of laws that we have passed over the years, including but not limited to 
retirement benefits, pensions, free and discounted medical goods and services, easier 
access to basic goods, transportation, accommodations, and activities of leisure.
To continue the tradition of making the lives of the elderly more comfortable, this bill 
seeks to grant senior citizens a lifetime validity for Philippine passports issued or renewed 
in their favor from the age of sixty years (60) and above.


Through this simple amendment to the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, the process of 
renewing their passport would be made easier and more convenient to senior citizens, 
and this will save them from the rigors of travelling to the passport renewal center or 
having to stand or wait unnecessarily for hours, thereby risking their health.
In view of thereof, the immediate passage of this bill Is ^ught
JLFO
Senator


i{l 
e«»- 
• V
of the
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
G57
S. No.
*22 JUL14 P6 26
RECElVtt/ Eii;
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tuifo
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:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Lifetime Passports for the
2 
Senior Citizens Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the "Philippine
4 
Passports Act of 1996" as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
6 
"SEC. 10. Validity- Regular passports issued under this Act shall be valid for a
7 
period of ten (10) years: Provided, however. That act for individuals under eighteen (18)
8 
years of age, only a passport with five (5) - years validity shall be Issued: Provided,
9 
further. That the issuing authority may limit the period of validity to less than (10) years, 
10 whenever in the national economic interest or political stability of the country such


1 
restriction is necessary; Provided, finally, That a new passport may be Issued to replace
2 
one which validity has expired, the old passport being returned to the holder after
3 
cancellation.
5 
"PASSPORTS OF SENIOR CITIZENS ISSUED OR RENEWED AT THE
6 
AGE OF SIXTTY (60) YEARS AND ABOVE SHALL HAVE LIFETIME
7 
VALIDITY."
8
9 
Sec. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - To carry out the provisions of this
10 
Act, the Department of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the National Commission on
11 
Senior Citizens shall, within sixty (60) days for the effectivity of this Act, issue the
12 
implementing rules and regulations for this Act.
13 
Sec. 4." Separability Clause.- Should any provision of this Act or the application
14 
thereof to any person or circumstance be held invalid, the other provisions or sections of
15 
this Act shall not be affected thereby.
16 
Sec. 5. - Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees executive orders, rules and
17 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
18 
amended or modified accordingly.
19 
Sec. 6. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
20 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,