SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E
COMMITTEE REPORT NO.
45
t e l
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t i f i i i r j ’
*17 
MAR- 7  
P 1 U J 4
RECEIVED BV:
Submitted by the Committee on Foreign Relations on 
MAR 0 7 
Re: 
Senate Bill N o._____ 1 _ 3 £ 5
Recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 109, 324, 795, and 1179, 
taking into consideration S. Nos. 397 and 943, P.S.R. No. 142, and H. No. 4767.
Sponsor: Senator Alan P eter S. Cayetano
MR. PRESIDENT;
The Committee on Foreign Relations, to which were referred the following Senate Bills: 
S. No. 109, introduced by Sen. Richard "Dick” J. Gordon, entitled:
"AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE "PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
S. No. 324, introduced by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, entitled:
"AN ACT
EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE REGULAR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ISSUED TO 
ADULT APPLICANTS TO TEN (10) YEARS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239 OR THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
S. No. 795, introduced by Sen. Ralph G. Recto, entitled:
"AN ACT
EXTENDING THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"


and S. No. 1179, introduced by Sen. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, entitled:
"AN ACT
EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF R.A. N 0.8239 ALSO KNOWN AS THE 
PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
and taking into consideration S. No. 397, introduced by Sen. Loren Legarda, entitled:
"AN ACT
TO AMEND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
S. No. 943, introduced by Sens. Sonny Angara and Joel Villanueva, entitled:
"AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 
EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE (R.A. NO. 8239), OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
P.S. Res. No. 142, introduced by Sen. Grace Poe, entitled:
"RESOLUTION
DIRECTING THE PROPER SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID 
OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ALLEGED DELAY OF PASSPORT PROCESSING 
RESULTING IN MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR FILIPINOS WHO NEED TO TRAVEL
OVERSEAS IMMEDIATELY"
and H. No. 4767, introduced by Representatives Macapagal-Arroyo, Montoro, 
Salimbangon, Santos-Recto, Suansing (E.), Suansing (H.), Tan (A.), Villar, Pineda, 
Romero, Aragones, Acop, Bertiz, Salceda, Oaminal, Dalipe, Abu, Ferriol-Pascual, Andaya, 
Ermita-Buhain, Aglipay-Villar, Primicias-Agabas, Tambunting, Castelo, Romualdez, 
Gonzales (A.P.), Garcia (G.), Pimentel, Cueva, Rodriguez (M.), Sy-Alvarado, Sambar, 
Bolilia, Savellano, Antonio, Del Mar, Nieto, Violago, Nograles (J.), Cosalan, Cerafica, 
Marino, Dy, Lee, Belaro, Palma, Barbers, Panganiban, Mending, Belmonte [R.), Paduano, 
Fortune, Ortega [V.), Del Rosario, Marcos, Velasco-Catera, Ty, Go (M.), Salo, Roa-Puno, 
Tupas, Roman, Pancho, Mangaoang, Go (A.C.), Daza, Albano, Herrera-Dy, Canama, 
Sarmiento (E.), Salon, Farinas, Gomez, Kho, Bataoil, Siao, Revilla, Villarica, Abellanosa, 
Bagatsing, Vargas-Alfonso, Deloso-Montalla, Ceriles, Lacson, Silverio, Tinio, Arenas, 
Eriguel, Romualdo, Turabin-Hataman, Lazatin, Yap (V.), Villarin, Villafuerte, Lobregat, 
Uy (R.), Eusebio, Chavez, Flores, Cortuna, Hofer, Loyola, Madrona, Dalog, Batocabe, 
Bravo (A.), and Alvarez (P.) Per Committee Report No. 48, entitled:
"AN ACT EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT,


AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHT 
THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE (R.A. NO. 8239), OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE "PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"
has considered the same and has the honor to report these bills and resolution back to 
the Senate with the recommendation that the attached bill. Senate Bill No. 
1 3 6 5 ~ 
prepared by the Committee, entitled:
"AN ACT
EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
be approved in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 109, 324, 795, and 1179, taking into 
consideration S.B. Nos. 397 and 943, PSR No. 142, and H. No. 4767, with Senators 
Gordon, Villar, Recto, Ejercito, Legarda, 
Angara, Villanueva, Poe, and Cayetano as 
authors thereof.
Respectfully subm itted;
ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO 
Chair, Committee on Foreign Relations


Vice-Chairs:
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
EMMANUJE
CQUIAO
Members:
PAOLO BENIGNO AQUINO IV
NNYANGA
JOSEPH VICTOR-G. EJERCITO
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO
/RICHARD Ji'QORDON II
GREGORIO B. HONASA
RISA HON
FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
ANTONIO F. TRILLANES IV
IGUEL F.ZUBIRl
fo-Tempore
ENTE C. SOTTO III
Majority header
FRANKLIN M. DRILON
Minority Leader
AQUILINO ‘ KOKO" PIMENTEL HI
President
Senate of the Philippines


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OFTHE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No.
1365
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*17
R E C E lV tD  HV:
-7  PI 'M
(in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 109, 324, 795, and 1179, 
taking into consideration S. B. Nos. 397 and 943, P.S.R. No. 142, and H. No. 4767)
Prepared and submitted by the Committee on Foreign Relations 
with Senators Gordon, Villar, Recto, Ejercito, Legarda, Angara, 
Villanueva, Poe and Cayetano as authors thereof
AN ACT
EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, otherwise known as the
2 
"Philippine Passport Act of 1996", is hereby amended to read, as follows;
3 
"SEC. 10. Validity. - Regular passports issued under this Act shall be
4 
valid for a period of TEN (10) [five (5)] years: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
5 
FOR INDIVIDUALS UNDER EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE, ONLY A
6 
PASSPORT WITH FIVE-YEAR VALIDITY SHALL BE ISSUED: Provided,
7 
[however] FURTHER, That the issuing authority may limit the period of
8 
validity to less than TEN (10) [five (5)] years; whenever in the national
9 
economic interest or political stability of the country such restriction is
10 
necessary: Provided finally. That a new passport may be issued to replace
11 
one which validity has expired, the old passport being returned to the holder
12 
after cancellation."
13 
SEC. 2. Implementing Authority. The Department of Foreign Affairs shall issue
14 
the necessary implementing rules and regulations and adopt best practices to ensure
15 
that the provisions of this Act are implemented in convergence with necessary reforms
16 
to make the passport processing system seamless, convenient and pro-people, and the
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production and security of passports at par with technological advances and world
18 
standards.
19 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared
20 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions or parts not affected shall remain in full
21 
force and effect.


1 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other
2 
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or
3 
modified accordingly.
4 
SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
5 
in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,