House OKs proposed new Philippine passport law on 2nd reading

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a measure providing for a new Philippine passport law that would harmonize the provisions of the existing law with current domestic laws and international agreements on the application and issuance of passports.

In a vote of ayes and nays, the chamber approved House Bill 8513, or the proposed "New Philippine Passport Act," repealing for the purpose the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

The measure mandates the issuance of passports using the latest tamper-proof data management technology. It also simplifies the passport documentation requirements of the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Consular Affairs to conform with relevant laws and the existing standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

At the same time, the bill directs the DFA to come up with a new system that would allow senior citizens to renew their passports without having to make a personal appearance, through the use of technology.

It also gives senior citizens and persons with disability a 50% discount on the processing, issuance, or replacement of passports.

The measure likewise allows the DFA to charge no more than 50% of the current passport fees to be used for the improvement of its passporting and consular services.

It also authorizes the issuance of other travel documents based on the following circumstances:

• Emergency Travel Document issued to a Filipino citizen who needs to travel urgently but whose passport has either lost or expired, or cannot be issued a regular one;
• Travel Document Certificate for Filipinos to be repatriated, alien, spouse of a Filipino and their dependents, who are yet to be naturalized and aliens permanently residing in the Philippines; and
• Convention  Travel Document for stateless persons, refugees, and or asylums in the Philippines.

If enacted into law, the measure will declare as passport-related offenses the acts of illegally withholding a passport and forging of visas and entry documents.

Stiffer penalties will also be imposed on individuals who are involved in the issuance, forgery, improper use of passports and travel documents, and multiple possession of passports. — BM, GMA News