Senate approves New Philippine Passport Bill on 3rd reading

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the proposed New Philippine Passport Act with 20-0-0 votes.

Under Senate Bill 2001, the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs or any duly authorized consular officer may issue passports.

Philippine consular officials in a foreign country shall be authorized by the DFA secretary to issue, deny, or cancel a passport in the area of jurisdiction of the Foreign Service Post.

In the interest of national interest, public safety, and public health, the DFA secretary or any of the authorized consular officials may deny issuance of a passport or cancel a passport, provided that:

• this shall not mean a loss of, or cast doubt on, the person’s citizenship;
• the safety and interest of the Filipino citizen are not at stake; and
• this shall not prevent the issuance of an Emergency Travel Document.

Section 7 of the bill requires first-time passport applicants to appear in person for biometric and biographic data capturing, but this shall be open for modification upon the determination by the DFA and the existence of enabling technologies and procedures that will enable the non-requirement of personal appearance.

Minors shall be assisted by a person exercising parental authority under relevant domestic laws.

Applicants who cannot read or write, persons with disability, and senior citizens may be assisted by a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity or by their traveling companion.

The DFA may require other additional documents as may be specified in the implementing rules and regulations that will come after the enactment of SB 2001.

Applicants who are 60 years old and above as well as migrant workers abroad may renew their passports without need of personal appearance.

Section 13 of the proposed law retains the 10-year validity of passports but the passports of Filipinos under 18 years old will only have five-year validity.

The bill likewise establishes an online application portal and electronic one-stop-shop which will be readily available on DFA’s website to facilitate convenience of application and ease in gathering and submission of requirements.

Apart from PWDs, senior citizens, pregnant women, OFWs and individuals with emergency and exceptional cases, Muslim Filipinos who are intending pilgrims to the annual hajj pilgrimage may also avail of special lanes from March to June.

The measure also included penalties for any act prejudicial to the Philippine passports' integrity. — BM, GMA Integrated News