PE CEIVED
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2491

179M UNIT.
X SEOVICE

Introduced by Hon. Sol Aragones

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 8239 or the Philippine Passport Act was passed in 1996. In its
statement of policy, it recognized that the people’s constitutional right to travel is inviolable.
In line with this, it is the duty of the government to issue passports or travel documents to its
citizens. It defines a passport as a document issued by the Philippine government to its
citizens and requesting other governments to allow our citizens to pass safely and freely, and

in case of need to give our citizen all lawful aid and protection.

While the said law has served our travelling countrymen well, one criticism is the
short validity period of five years which amounts to greater costs and additional time spent to
process these travel documents. This is particularly burdensome for our overseas Filipino
workers. With this concern in mind, this bill seeks to lengthen the validity of passports to ten
years for applicants who are sixteen years of age or older, For applicants who are fifteen
years old or younger, the validity still remains at five years. This is to account for the changes
in the facial features of children and ten years will significantly change their faces as they

appear on the passport photo.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

(mb4-
IN. SOL, .GONES
Representative, Third District of Laguna



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

House Bill No. 2191

Introduced by Hon. Sol Aragones

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, ALSO KNOWN AS.
THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996

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

SECTION 1. Article 10 of Republic Act No. 8239, also known as the Philippine
Passport Act of 1996, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 10. Validity. — Regular passports issued under this Act shall
be valid for a period of five (5) years FOR APPLICANTS FIFTEEN (15)
YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER AND TEN (10) YEARS FOR
APPLICANTS SIXTEEN (16) YEARS OLD OR OLDER; Provided,
however, That the issuing authority may limit the period of validity to less
than five (5) years OR TEN (10) YEARS, AS THE CASE MAY BE;
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.
SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. ~ Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive

order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,