House approves extending passport validity to 10 years

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure that seeks to extend the validity of Philippine passport to 10 years.

House Bill No. 4767, a consolidation of 22 bills on the matter, got the House’s nod, 216-0-0.

The measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 8239, or the “Philippine Passport Law,” which currently states that a passport is valid for a period of five years, regardless of the age of the applicant.

Under the bill, the validity will be extended to 10 years for adults, or those 18 years old and above.

It states, however, that the issuing authority "may limit" the period of validity to less than 10 years in the case of minors, or "whenever the national economic interest or political stability of the country" makes it necessary.

The bill will be transmitted to Senate for concurrence.

Among the measure's principal authors is former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who now sits as a deputy speaker. —JST, GMA News