HOUSE. OF REPS

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES yan "30
Quezon City awe: oe
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS| By.

First Regular Session

1995

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

RECISTRATION UNIT

HOUSE BILL NO. ND aNuE SLAVICE

BIL

AN ACT EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF REGULAR PASSPORTS TO TEN (10)
YEARS, AMENDING SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE "PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996"

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution provides that “the right to travel shall not be impaired except in the
interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law" (Article
IIL, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines).

Consistent with this provision, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 8239 or the
Philippine Passport Act of 1996, which provides for the duty of government to issue passports or
any travel document to any citizen or individual who complies with the requirements of the law.

Presently, Philippine passports have a five-year validity and applicants are required to
pay the Phpg5o processing fee for the regular process or Php1,200 for those who want to rush
the processing. Usually, the process takes about 25 working days.

A five-year passport validity is rather too short considering the tedious process one has
to go through to get a passport and the steep cost of obtaining or renewing it. Hence, this bill
seeks to enhance the Filipinos’ unimpaired exercise of their constitutional right to travel by
increasing the validity of regular passports issued from five (5) to ten (10) years. In so doing,
Filipinos, especially the Overseas Filipino Workers, will be spared from the constant hassle of
applying for renewal,

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

(Gin
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4° District, Quezon



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1995

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

HOUSE BILL NO.

AN ACT EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF REGULAR PASSPORTS TO TEN (10)
YEARS, AMENDING SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8239, OTHERWISE
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. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8239 shall be 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: 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. 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 are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general Circulation.

Approved,