Filtered By: Topstories
News

Lawmaker eyes longer-lasting passports by January 2018


A lawmaker on Sunday urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to start preparing for the 10-year Philippine passport validity.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, chairman of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said that the DFA should start working on the 10-year validity instead of 5 years, and that the new passports should be out by January 1, 2018.

"Hopefully by January 1, 2018 at the latest, everybody can start getting passports that are effective up to 10 years, in view of the forthcoming passage of the applicable legislation," Pimentel said.

He was referring to the proposed new Philippine Passport Act of which he is among the principal authors.

"We are counting on the designation of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs to help ease the transition to longer-lasting passports."

Cayetano, Pimentel said, championed the 10-year validity of passports in his capacity as chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee.

The House approved on third and final reading the proposed new Philippine Passport Act on February 13, 2017, and the Senate is expected to do the same before the June 2 sine die adjournment of the first regular session of the 17th Congress.

"This gives the DFA around six months to put in order the seamless issuance of the new passports beginning next year, at the latest," Pimentel said. —LBG, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT