Palace official says new, high-security passports out Monday 

A Malacañang official on Sunday said "new, high-security passports" will be released starting Monday, August 15.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the design of the new passports feature the regions of the country.

Other changes include intaglio or embossed printing used for the printing of money and the printing of the coat of arms using optical variable illusion ink, where color varies at different angles.

Added security features were also placed, including a microchip with the personal data of the applicant, invisible UV fluorescent ink and thread, and an elaborate design when subject to UV light.

Andanar said that the delivery of passports will be cut down to five days compared to the previous 7 to 14 days.

“The new APO printing system increases the production speed of the new passports to 35 percent. This means the new passport printing system results to delivery of passports from press to the Department of Foreign Affairs to an average of 5 days," he said.

The APO Productions Unit, Inc. is under the Presidential Communications Office, which Andanar heads. —ALG, GMA News